title: Bridging the workforce gap for our aging society: how to increase and improve knowledge and training. Report of an expert panel.
abstract: The healthcare workforce is currently unprepared for the increasing number of older persons and the complexities of their healthcare needs. Too few healthcare workers are adequately trained in geriatrics, and developers of educational curricula across healthcare disciplines have been slow to incorporate or require geriatric training. In April 2003, leaders in geriatrics met in Washington, D.C., to discuss and recommend solutions to the growing shortage of an appropriately trained workforce for geriatric research, education, and patient care. After considering data, presenting statistics, and offering insights into the future, the conference concluded by formulating recommendations to meet specific challenges. This report is a summary of the conference proceedings and recommendations, and it serves as a reminder that demographic trends and an everexpanding geriatric knowledge base demand not only attention, but also action.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Alice Mankin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: LaMascus
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce