Elective rotations are available in affiliated hospitals and, through the provincial network program, rotations to other Quebec university centres are encouraged. Rotating through these settings, the trainee develops clinical skills in the acute medical and psychogeriatric assessment, physical and mental rehabilitation and continuing care of elderly patients with a full gamut of acute illnesses and acquired disabilities. There is consistent interaction with the multidisciplinary teams of health care professionals whose mission is the full evaluation and treatment of frail elderly patients. All four training sites have inpatient assessment units, consultation services, geriatric psychiatry consultation, and busy outpatient services. One site has a geriatric day hospital.
All units work closely with the community home care teams.
The trainee has the opportunity to participate in planning for the provision of a network of home care services to the frail elderly living in the community. A new rotation in Palliative Care has recently been added to the curriculum. Residents are expected to develop a research project during their training period. The Division of Geriatric Medicine has access to a wide variety of research programs in the field of aging. Examples include research in Biology of aging, health services delivery, memory disorders including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, pharmaco-epidemiology, delirium, geriatric nutrition, urinary incontinence and women's health issues.