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Physicians Perspective
Ring in the New Year With Healthcare Screening and Preventive Strategies
As the New Year starts, it is a good time for all physicians to consider what is necessary for our patients’ care in the months ahead. Early recognition of problems through healthcare screening and preventive strategies are key to maintaining health and maximizing function throughout life. Unfortunately, many patients still fail to have simple tests and screenings that have become the standard of care. Having a list of agreed-upon recommendations in a patient’s file makes it easier to keep track of what is necessary as the year progresses. There are many places to seek recommendations, and
A New Protection for Older Adults: Herpes Zoster Vaccine
December is a good month to think of vaccinations. With the “flu season” upon us, the influenza vaccine should be given to all older individuals, as discussed in the October issue of Clinical Geriatrics.1 Now is also a good time to make sure that all elderly persons have had their vaccination against pneumococcal infection. This year, however, there is a new vaccine to consider. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone over age 60 years be vaccinated against herpes zoster. Almost all elderly persons, whether they remember it or not, have been expose
Patient Education Handouts From the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
In this issue, we are pleased to inaugurate a new feature aimed at helping our readers educate their patients about important medical topics that affect them daily: “Tip Sheets for Older Adults” and “The Patient Education Forum” from the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) Aging in the Know website. These will appear in this and future issues as convenient informational resources written specifically for the older patient. Topics will include vaccination tips (which appears on pages 9 and 10 in this issue of Clinical Geriatrics), hot weather and winter safe
Advocacy Is Essential at Any Age
We must not underestimate the importance of having someone available to advocate for an elderly individual’s “best interests.” While personal wishes must be honored, not all older people can express what they truly want done or not done (depending on their unique circumstances). “Living wills” can go a long way to clarify one’s prior wishes, but even here there may be room for interpretation.
Two distinct cases recently brought this issue close to me, each illustrating different aspects of the same issue.
Mrs. B is an 82-year-old widow who lived alone and remained independe
Importance of More Comprehensive Training in the Care of the Elderly
Although everyone recognizes that there are a growing number of older individuals and a need for physicians to be skilled in the special needs and problems of the elderly, little has been done to ensure that medical trainees receive comprehensive training in this regard. As a program director of an Internal Medicine residency program, I make sure on a regular basis that my program meets all of the ever-changing rules and regulations. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) requires that
“Residents must have formal instruction and assigned clinical experience in geriatric medicine.
Preventive Healthcare Must Not Be Forgotten, Regardless of Age
Vaccine to Cut Risk of Shingles in Older People Is Approved” read the headline in the Health section of The New York Times. To the casual reader this may pale in comparison to the bombings in Iraq, the baseball scores, or the weather forecast for the weekend. To me, it spoke of hope.
Today’s generation of elderly individuals unfortunately did not have the ability to take advantage of modern medicine’s knowledge of preventive healthcare measures and the myriad of new technology that has changed the face of medicine today. Many of the diseases that are all too common in old age may hav
Routine Evaluations Should Include Oral Exam
This issue of Clinical Geriatrics includes a CME article on “Oral Infections in the Elderly,” the second part of a series written by Kenneth Shay, DDS, MS. Primary care physicians caring for the older person must take responsibility for the “whole” patient, and this includes an appropriate history and thorough exami
nation of the oral cavity. Few medical schools include a significant curriculum regarding the oral environment; most physicians believe that this area of the body is better left to the dental expert. While specific problems that are identified may indeed require a dental
Here’s to a Safe, Enjoyable Summertime
While Daylight Savings Time starts in April and spring brings flowers and warmer weather, in many parts of the country, June begins the season when we spend a greater time outdoors. Older persons should enjoy the summer season as much as anyone else, but for many, spending time outside remains a challenge. There are special concerns this time of year for our older patients, with a little prevention going a long way toward ensuring enjoyment while minimizing risk. Some thoughts follow that came quickly to mind. I’m sure you have your own list of items that we would all be well advised to thin
The Importance of Clinical Correlation and Impact of Testing Choices on Clinical Care and Outcome
Ms. J was a very healthy, 63-year-old woman in the prime of her life until 2 days prior to admission, when she developed a sharp pleuritic chest pain on the left side. She denied any shortness of breath or upper respiratory symptoms, and had no pain or swelling in her lower extremities. She had traveled to Las Vegas, a 3-hour plane trip, 3 weeks earlier and had what appeared to be a viral illness at that time that improved within a few days. She was not taking any medications, and reported no other changes in her daily routine or abilities.
Thinking that there must be some acute problem, s
The Future of “Primary Care”—Frail and Vulnerable?
I was recently asked to participate in a panel discussion regarding the “future of primary care.” At first, I thought they asked me to discuss the future of internal medicine, and I had envisioned a lively discussion regarding new technology and procedures that are quickly becoming the standard of care in cardiology, pulmonology, and other subspecialty areas. Manpower issues were not forefront in my mind, since my residents are eagerly applying to fellowships in these areas and dreaming of future careers viewed as exciting and highly compensated.
When I was informed that this was to be
Clinical Geriatrics Blogs
Coming in Future Issues of Clinical Geriatrics
Series: Diabetes in the Elderly
Series: Cancer in Older Adults
First Report® Conference Coverage: American Academy of Neurology, American Diabetes Association, 2010 Digestive Disease Week
Assessment and Classification of Pain in the Elderly Patient
Pharmacologic Management of Pain in Older Patients
Miscellaneous Pain Syndromes in Older Adults
Nonhernia Causes of Inguinal Pain in the Elderly
