IMPROVING CARE FOR RURAL TRIBAL OLDER ADULTS THROUGH A GERIATRICS CURRICULUM FOR INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS

摘要

Although the U.S. rural population is on average older than the urban population, the geriatric workforce shortage is worse in rural areas. To address this shortage, a geriatrics curriculum was developed, implemented, and evaluated using the Kern Model for curriculum development, for an interdisciplinary primary care team at an Indian Health Services site in rural South Dakota. The curriculum addressed areas identified by a needs assessment: falls, pain management, end of life care, cognitive impairment and polypharmacy through five in person teaching sessions using interdisciplinary didactics, case based learning, and enduring source materials. Evaluation of learner outcomes has found increases in self-rated geriatrics knowledge and skills, and positive impact on professional development. Our curriculum represents the first longitudinal geriatrics curriculum targeting interdisciplinary primary care teams taking care of rural tribal older adults and can be used to guide efforts to increase geriatrics competency of the rural health workforce.