Geriatric Scholars Program for Rural Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)

For the past 4 years the Geriatric Scholars Program has provided geriatric training to primary care providers from eligible rural CBOCs.  This program is designed to improve care for older Veterans who live in rural areas and each participant is envisioned as an ambassador of change to improve care in his/her local setting.  Elements of the program include intensive follow-up activities as well as self directed learning for  a longitudinal and tailored learning experience.  For more information, please contact the Greater Los Angeles GRECC and ask for Lauren Jones, PhD at lauren.jones@va.gov or by telephone 818-895-9311.

Geriatric Scholars Program for Primary Care Providers

This new component of the Geriatric Scholars Program focuses on system level changes that impact geriatric care and helps to educate peers (teach back) regarding geriatric medical management. For more information, please contact the jennifer.griffith@va.gov at the Bronx GRECC or contact lauren.jones@va.gov or by telephone at 818-895-9311.

Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training

This new component of the Geriatric Scholars Program provides on-site training to the rural CBOC clinical team to enhance interdisciplinary care, with a special focus on care of older Veterans.  For more information, please contact jennifer.griffith@va.gov at the Bronx GRECC or contact lauren.jones@va.gov or by telephone 818-895-9311 at the Greater Los Angeles GRECC.

Geriatric Assessment Pocket Guide

The Greater Los Angeles GRECC developed this pocket guide to assist providers with conducting a geriatric assessment.  VA employees may order copies directly from the VA employee Education System TMS intranet site, using reorder #7045.  Access to TMS is through: http://vaww.sites.lrn.va.gov/vacatalog/default.asp.   For more information, please contact the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System GRECC at 818-895-93311 or by email to: maryalice.mesa@va.gov.

20th Annual Hospice and Palliative Care Conference

“Transitions and Practices” will be held June 7, 2012 at Fort McArthur, San Pedro, CA.  For more information, please contact the Greater Los Angeles GRECC and ask for Marcie Stahl by telephone at 818-895-9311 or by email to: marcie.stahl@va.gov.

                             CME Symposium from the VISN 3 GRECC 

THE VISN 3 GRECC and the Consortium of NY Geriatric Education Centers is offering a course to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship among palliative care, geriatrics, and oncology within the older adult population.  The vast majority of older adults currently receive their medical care from general primary care providers rather than from geriatric specialists .  By virtue of their practices, most primary care practitioners have a working knowledge of the basic principles of geriatric care.  The goal of this course is to provide these seasoned clinicians with advanced training in geriatrics and palliative care using cancer as a framework for discussion.

 For VA healthcare providers, the course is free of charge.  For non-VA providers, the cost of the course is $75 for doctors and nurses and $50 for allied health professionals.  8 hours of CEUs will be provided by EES.

                                                         VISN 3 Fall Primary Care Conference
                                                       Cancer in the Elderly: It's Complicated
                             Tuesday, June 12, 2012: JJ Peters (Bronx) VAMC, Room 3D22 Front & Back
                                                                     8:30am - 5:00pm

The course is sponsored by the Consortium of NY Geriatric Education Centers, the VISN 3 Primary Care Council
and the VISN 3 GRECC

Registration link: http://www.nygec.org/index.cfm?section_id=3&page_id=19

CME link: http://www.nygec.org/uploaded_documents/CNYGEC%11-12%20BROCHURE_8311_FINAL.pdf