November 18, 2008

• $2 million grant will provide geriatrics training

• Will enhance elder care

• For local physicians, UAB med students and residents

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A major problem facing health care workers is providing care for the complex situations of older adults with multiple medical conditions and/or advanced illness. To better prepare current physicians and medical trainees to better provide for their older patients, UAB has received a $2 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to create a geriatric educational training program for every UAB medical student and resident, as well as many faculty and community physicians.

The program, called the Alabama Reynolds Program for Care of the Complex Older Adult (COCOA), will address five key areas necessary for delivering high quality care to older adults: advanced illness and multimorbidity, transitions in care, family systems and self/caregiver management, cultural aspects of aging, and health literacy and disparities.

"COCOA will address recognized gaps in medical student, resident, and community physician education in geriatrics," said program director Christine Ritchie, M.D., director of palliative and supportive care in the UAB Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care "Working with our Reynolds partners, we will build a comprehensive geriatric education program that will provide trainees and physicians with the tools to serve their older patients better while navigating the increasing complexity often associated with aging. This program will blend important clinical principles from geriatrics and palliative care."

COCOA will use a variety of innovative resources and cutting-edge educational techniques, including virtual patients (actors with scripted conditions presenting as patients), web-based materials and distance learning.

Geriatrics will be integrated in the new medical school curriculum throughout all four years. Residents will receive enhanced geriatrics and advanced illness care content in five specialties and medicine residents will undertake a four-week geriatric rotation. Web-based geriatric education modules will be available for students, residents and practicing physicians.

"COCOA will provide advance training in geriatric issues to all 875 medical students and 350 residents at UAB," said co-director Hughes Evans, M.D., professor of pediatrics and senior associate dean for academic affairs. "It will build upon our strong existing programs and geriatric faculty at this university."

UAB is the recipient of one of ten grants totaling nearly $20 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation designed to strengthen physician's geriatric training across the United States.