Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem?
Authors: T.S. Dharmarajan, Abishek Kumar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Letters18 September 2012Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem?T.S. Dharmarajan, MD and Abishek Kumar, MDT.S. Dharmarajan, MDFrom Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10466.Search for more papers by this author and Abishek Kumar, MDFrom Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10466.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-6-201209180-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The recent In the Balance articles by Golden and colleagues (1) and Leipzig and colleagues (2) invoke much thought. Isn't it premature to declare geriatric medicine terminal rather than address factors for its perceived decline with solutions for healing?The aging of America warrants development of programs that address functional decline and disability in the elderly (3). The shortage of geriatricians will continue, calling for physician competency in geriatrics (4). Besides internal medicine, several specialties are formulating approaches to include training in geriatric care (4). The American Gastroenterological Association issued a position paper (5) supporting this concept; ...References1. Golden AG, Silverman MA, Mintzer MJ. Is geriatric medicine terminally ill? Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:654-6. [PMID: 22547474] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Leipzig RM, Hall WJ, Fried LP. Treating our societal scotoma: the case for investing in geriatrics, our nation's future, and our patients. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:657-9. [PMID: 22547475] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Kelley AS, Ettner SL, Morrison RS, Du Q, Sarkisian CA. Disability and decline in physical function associated with hospital use at end of life. J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27:794-800. [PMID: 22382455] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kuehn BM. Effort under way to prepare physicians to care for growing elderly population. JAMA. 2009;302:727-8. [PMID: 19690295] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Hall KE, Proctor DD, Fisher L, Rose S. American Gastroenterological Association future trends committee report: effects of aging of the population on gastroenterology practice, education, and research. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:1305-38. [PMID: 16230084] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Nasca TJ, Philibert I, Brigham T, Flynn TC. The next GME accreditation system—rationale and benefits. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:1051-6. [PMID: 22356262] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: T.S. Dharmarajan, MD; Abishek Kumar, MDAffiliations: From Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10466.Disclosures: Dr. Dharmarajan: Employment: Vice Chairman of Medicine and Geriatrics Program Director; Payment for lectures including service on speakers bureaus: occasionally paid for CME lectures. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoIs Geriatric Medicine Terminally Ill? Adam G. Golden , Michael A. Silverman , and Michael J. Mintzer Treating Our Societal Scotoma: The Case for Investing in Geriatrics, Our Nation's Future, and Our Patients Rosanne M. Leipzig , William J. Hall , and Linda P. Fried Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? Hajime Ichiseki Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? Giuseppe Bellelli and Marco Trabucchi Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? Adam G. Golden , Michael A. Silverman , and Michael J. Mintzer Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? John R. Burton and Samuel C. Durso Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? David Hamerman Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? Leslie S. Libow Dialogue on Geriatrics: How Should We Fix the Problem? Kenneth M. Madden and Kenneth Rockwood Metrics Cited byBasic Geriatrics Knowledge Among Internal Medicine Trainees in a Teaching Hospital in Saudi Arabia 18 September 2012Volume 157, Issue 6Page: 457KeywordsFellowshipsForecastingGastroenterology and hepatologyGeriatric careGeriatricsGraduate medical educationPediatricsResidencySub-specialty careYoung adults ePublished: 18 September 2012 Issue Published: 18 September 2012 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...