TARGETING MOBILITY FROM SCREENING TO TREATMENT IN LARGE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS: A VA GRECC SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM

摘要

Mobility problems are a signal condition identifying older adults at risk for adverse health outcomes such as disability, falls, hospitalization and death. Mobility skills are also strongly linked to the manifestation of cognitive impairment and frailty. The estimated added costs associated with mobility problems is expected to surpass $40 billion in the US by the year 2040. Therefore, screening and monitoring of mobility skills has been advocated as a means for large healthcare systems focused on enhancing care quality and reducing costs to identify older adults in need of preventative care. Also, clinical programs targeting mobility skills has been prioritized as means of preventing these adverse health outcomes. The VA healthcare systems is the largest accountable care organization in the US. This symposium will highlight work conducted within both the VHA and other large healthcare systems targeting mobility. Presentation one will highlight using mobility assessment to identify those with a heightened fall risk among patients with cognitive impairment receiving care in an ambulatory neurology clinic. Presentation two will summarize the use of combined mobility and cognitive screening among primary care patients and the ability of this information to predict adverse outcomes. Presentation three will highlight the use of gait speed assessment to identify cardiology patients manifesting frailty. Presentation four will describe the use of actigraphy for monitoring mobility behaviors among different populations of community dwelling older adults. Presentation five will summarize the results of implementing Gerofit, a clinical program targeting mobility, within VA centers across the US.