Geriatrics

You’ll develop and enhance the diagnostic and management skills you need to care for older patients.

As you learn how to comprehensively assess your patients, you’ll become proficient administering the Folstein mini mental state exam, evaluating your patients’ functional capacity and nutritional status, and interpreting bone density studies and hearing evaluations.

You’ll understand the regulations for patient care in long-term facilities, including the use of physical restraints and psychotropic medication.

You’ll learn how to counsel geriatric patients on advance directives, nutrition and end-of-life options, and you’ll demonstrate respect and compassion for their autonomy and dignity.

Conditions Seen

You’ll learn how to diagnose and treat elderly patients with conditions including:

  • ataxia
  • anemia
  • anxiety
  • atrial fibrillation
  • cancer
  • cerebral vascular accident
  • congestive heart failure
  • constipation
  • coronary artery disease
  • delirium
  • dementia
  • depression
  • diverticulosis
  • dysphagia
  • fractures
  • hypertension
  • hearing loss
  • osteoporosis
  • pneumonia
  • pressure ulcers
  • renal insufficiency
  • urinary incontinence
  • urinary tract infections

Clinical Sites

  • Two outpatient geriatric practices

Year Taken

PGY-1

Length of Rotation

4 weeks