Development and implementation of a geriatric care/case management program in a military community-based family medicine residency

Abstract

This article discusses how the development of a longitudinal geriatric assessment form facilitated a ease management program in identifying high-risk frail elders within a military family practice clinic. A careful review of geriatric assessment tools was performed. From this review, a model geriatric assessment form was developed. A 'SWOT' (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the family medicine department was completed to determine if the environment was ready for ease management. Analysis of the SWOT data revealed that the environment was favorable for a population-based approach to ease management. Results of this initial study are encouraging. The new longitudinal geriattic assessment form has assisted family practice residents in organizing problems and data while seeing elderly patients. As a direct result, higher-risk frail elders have been identified for closer evaluation and follow-up. Future goals are to measure outcomes-based data and to refine the geriatric assessment process.