We offer many elective courses during the senior year to best serve each student’s individual needs and goals. Students with well-defined career goals and those who are still in the process of choosing a specific area to focus on have a wide assortment of electives to choose from. Most courses are two or four weeks in duration.
Students are also encouraged to approach faculty members for the development of unique courses.
| Department: | Medicine |
|---|---|
| Course Number: | MED-4006 |
| Course Name: | Geriatric Medicine-Home Care |
| Instructors: | Dr. Kevin Costello |
| Course Description: | Prerequisite: Successful completion of 3rd year. Course Description: Opportunities are provided for a coordinated primary care experience in diagnosis and management of the medical, social and psychological problems of homebound elderly and younger disabled patients. Students have exposure to diverse patient living environments (private home, apartment, senior apartment, enriched housing, assisted living facility, and skilled nursing facility) and to a broad spectrum of difficulties (dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, incontinence, impaired mobility and associated complications, poverty and neglect) most frequently seen in geriatric medicine and the impact of age on disease expression. They will learn the vital role of family caregivers and what can be learned from their experience in coping with practical problems. They will participate in active collaboration with providers from multiple disciplines including nursing, PT, OT, speech therapy, social work home health aides, and pharmacists and the various agencies through which they work. They will learn about the indications and uses for various types of durable medical equipment. They will see a variety of focuses of care including home ventilator support, post-hospital transitional care, palliative and hospice care. The two or four-week rotation will include a special project to be planned in accordance with a student's particular interest. |
| Educational Objectives: | The student will: 1. Identify prevalent diseases and syndromes in elderly and younger disabled patients. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of age on presentation and management of diseases and syndromes. 3. Describe ethical, financial and regulatory aspects of providing medical care in the home and other community settings. 4. Distinguish supporting caregivers in their essential enabling role in patient care. 5. Identify community-based agencies and working in a multi-disciplinary home care environment. 6. Demonstrate the ability to assess the home environment for adequacy of support, accessibility, and safety. 7. Describe the optimal transitions of care between hospital and home. |
| Types of Patients: | Home-bound elderly adults and disabled younger adults; patients recently discharged from AMCH pending return to primary care provider. |
| Teaching Sessions /Conferences: | Weekly case presentation and related topic review; review of evidence-based "learning prescriptions." |
| Resources /Readings: | Selected bibliography and links to web-based resources will be provided. |
| Evaluation Method(s): | Direct Observation, Conference Participation, Formal Presentation, Simulated Chart Review |
| Contact Information: | Dr. Kevin B. Costello, [email protected], (518) 577-0495 |
| Period(s) Available: | 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10 |
| Available Length: | 2 weeks 4 weeks |
| Max Students: | 1 |
| Visiting Students: | No |