Institutionalizing a Multi-Faceted Approach to Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training

Abstract

ABSTRACT The process of needs assessment, program design, implementation, and institutionalization of a Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Program is examined. Three program components target health care professionals and students/pre-professionals: a video-based geriatric interdisciplinary team training course that has portability and is appropriate for training in a variety of settings; a system of identifying, enhancing, and evaluating geriatric placements in interdisciplinary teamwork; and a series of training units leading to a Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Certificate. Over the three-year program development period, 40 students completed the graduate course, 12 new clinical training sites were developed for training in interdisciplinary teamwork, and 39 half-day Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training sessions were developed, offered, and evaluated for 537 health professionals. Fifteen health-care professionals were certified through the 50-hour geriatric interdisciplinary team training program and three health-care professionals took the 40-hour program.