The center will allow us to test better ways of delivering care more effectively and efficiently to older people, said Dr. Lichtenstein. Greg Rufe, vice president-operations for the University Health System, said county officials hope the new center will be a model for interdisciplinary care for seniors. We later hope to set up a network of these centers around Bexar County. This truly is a one-stop shop to take care of seniors, he added. Dr. Lichtenstein said the center, which will be available to those 65 and older, will be unique because of the coordination of care that is essential to providing quality care to older people.
Some seniors have complex health problems.
It is important to have all of the older person s health care providers working together to create a care plan. Having it in a single geographic location improves communication, he said. In addition to learning how to better care for the aging population, Health Science Center faculty members are working on understanding the complex biological causes and effects of aging. The Nathan Shock President and Mrs. Harry Truman host a goodbye party for the Prescotts, who are in their 50s Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, which is overseen by Dr. Richardson, is playing a major role in such studies. Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, the San Antonio center is one of five national centers.