Practice tools to meet the complex needs of older vulnerable military beneficiaries.
The elderly military beneficiary is a valued, high-risk, high-cost, and complex individual with unique medical needs. Attention to common geriatric syndromes (such as incontinence) and quality end-of-life care is critical in this population. Care of older adults is part of every adult medical and surgical specialty and represents a significant portion of the care rendered by the Military Health System (MHS)--a system that is currently oriented to warrior care and the care of young adults and families. Unique additional knowledge and expertise to care for the age-related geriatric syndromes is required by all providers. Maintaining quality of care for this older vulnerable population also requires unique measurement metrics and is facilitated by use of validated practice tools. This article will review validated practice tools that can assist military physicians and facilities in prospective and retrospective quality improvement (QI) initiatives to improve the therapeutic and palliative care of our older beneficiaries.
Unwin
Brian K
BK
Department of Family Medicine (FAP), Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
Wilson
Cindy
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D008889:Military Personnel; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*