title: [Role of geriatric physicians in the general hospital].
abstract: Geriatricians have a major roles to assess and head elderly patients using a team approach. In this paper, the first question is to ask what a geriatrician is, and the second question is to ask the role of a geriatrician. A geriatrician is a coordinator for elderly patients who have physical and mental disorders. We have to take care of not only diseases, but also the patients' lives after discharge from hospital. Geriatrician should coordinates a team approach and maintain contact with care managers. In general hospitals, discharge planning, which supports short and smooth discharge is an important role of geriatrician. We are frequently asked to see elderly patient by specialists because of difficult problems, such as delirium, cognitive dysfunction and communication disorder.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Comprehensive Geriatric Medicine.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019058:Community Networks; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care; D019091:Critical Pathways; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008511:Medicine; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010819:Physician's Role; D011788:Quality of Life; D013038:Specialization