title: Meeting American Geriatrics Society Competencies: Are Residents Meeting Expectations for Quality Care of Older Adults?
abstract: In order to determine how often internal medicine and family medicine residents performed specific actions related to the geriatric competencies established by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) when caring for older hospitalized adults, a cross-sectional anonymous survey of residents at the University of North Carolina, University of Washington, Wake Forest University, Duke University, and Emory University was undertaken. Data on frequency of self-reported behaviors were analyzed, with comparisons made for different levels of training, institution, and program. A total of 375 residents responded for an overall response rate of 48%. Residents reported that they often do not demonstrate all of the AGS recommended core competencies when caring for older adults in the hospital setting. Residents report more frequently performing activities that are routinely integrated into hospital systems such as reviewing medication lists, working with an interdisciplinary team, evaluating for inappropriate bladder catheters, and evaluating for pressure ulcers. There were no consistent differences between institutions and only minor differences noted between Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residents. Operationalizing core competencies by integrating them into hospital systems' quality process indicators may prompt more consistent high-quality care and ensure systems support residents' competence.
authors: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Center for Aging and Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Debra L
authors: DL
authors: Bynum
authors: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Center for Aging and Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Wilson
authors: Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors: Thuan
authors: T
authors: Ong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Kathryn E
authors: KE
authors: Callahan
authors: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Dalton
authors: Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Ugochi
authors: U
authors: Ohuabunwa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: geriatric competencies; resident education