There are also opportunities for attending weekly multidisciplinary case conference and monthly psychodynamic trauma conferences on site. This assignment is a multi-focused training experience in geriatric and extended care programs in the hospital. The goal is to provide experience in working with elderly patients in a variety of care settings. Interns work with patients requiring long-term care, either in the hospital or community, and have the opportunity to work closely with other professionals on an interdisciplinary treatment team. Interns gain experience with a broad spectrum of assessment techniques, including personality, neuropsychological, and behavioral observations.
Special attention is given to rehabilitation-oriented functional assessments.
Brief counseling is provided to assist patients and families in coping with a variety of health and psychosocial issues common in geriatrics. A primary activity of the intern is consultation with professional staff in treatment, discharge, and placement planning to facilitate patients' highest level of independent functioning. This assignment offers an excellent opportunity to explore geropsychology, neuropsychology, behavioral medicine, and pharmacology with an elderly patient population. Interns can combine this experience with other activities to meet their interests. For example, some interns may choose Health Psychology or Neuro-psychology Consultation as a secondary assignment with this rotation.