M3 Geriatrics

ELEC356 / PMDN 603

Department
Internal Medicine

Clinical or Non-Clinical Course
Clinical

Physician Assessed Patient Facing
Yes

Prerequisites
Completion of Phase 2 Internal Medicine Clerkship

Goal
The student will spend two weeks with Dr. Lindahl. The student will make inpatient rounds with the geriatrics team Monday through Friday and attend team based learning sessions with the house staff and other learners (e.g. – APN students). One half day session may be available for nursing home rounds. One half day each week will be in attendance at an outpatient geriatric consult clinic to include family discussions and interdisciplinary approach to management of the geriatric patient. The student will be expected to attend M3 lectures and Department of Medicine conferences (e.g. – morning report and noon conference).

Objectives
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Take a history from a geriatric patient with special emphasis on physical and mental functioning.
  2. Perform a mental status exam to evaluate confusion and/or memory loss in an elderly patient.
  3. Identify patients at high risk for falling.
  4. Discuss the appropriate evaluation for persons presenting with a probable dementia.
  5. Describe key illness in the elderly like incontinence, osteoporosis, introgensis, urinary tract infection, depression, acute abdomen and thyroid disease, focusing on their often atypical presentation.
  6. Demonstrate respect to the older patients and make efforts to preserve their dignity.
  7. Discuss roles of multidisciplinary team members in the care of older patients.
  8. Demonstrate self-awareness of personal attitudes toward aging and death.
  9. Demonstrate knowledge of psychosocial issues facing older patients (elder abuse and neglect, home safety, community resources, alternative living situations).

Method of Assessment
Standard Clinical 2wk Elective Evaluation - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Additional Methods
The student skills will be assessed primarily by the attending physician, based on the performance of the above tasks

Course Director
Larry Lindahl, MD

Course Coordinator
Ashley Finney
afinney@uic.edu
309-840-7268

Location
SFMC

Setting
Outpatient
Inpatient

Night Call
No

Laboratory
No

Weekends
No

House Staff
Yes

Number of Learners per Block
1

Duration
2 weeks

Who is this elective available to
M3s (in Phase 2)

Blocks Available
All except winter break.