Integrated and Collaborative Training for Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

By 2030, estimated 72.1 million will be over the age of 65 (more than 19% of the total population) (1). In 2010, there were estimated 1738 geriatric psychiatrists in the United States and this represented 0.9 geriatric psychiatrists per 10,000 population aged 75 years (2). Recently number of general psychiatrists entering advanced fellowship training in geriatric psychiatry has been decreasing. Approximately 55-60 fellowship slots are being filled each year and this is woefully inadequate to meet the overall demands (3).