Program for Wednesday May 12, 2021

Supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation
This pre-conference session is limited to HRSA GWEP awardees. 

Additional fee session
This full-day course is designed to educate Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) teams regarding strategies for delirium prevention, using HELP to improve hospital-wide care of older adults.  Learning Objectives: (1) describe how delirium impacts older adults in the hospital; (2) identify nonpharmacologic approaches to prevent delirium; (3) apply strategies for how to implement HELP as a quality improvement program in their hospital; (4) review the impact of social determinants of health for older adults and their impact on delirium; (5) describe strategies for success and sustainability for HELP programs; (6) identify the ways that delirium impacts patients with Alzheimer’s disease; (7) identify the key first steps in program planning and implementing HELP at their facility; (8) discuss the features of an annual report and how to write one for their program; and (9) describe the relationship of hearing loss in hospitalized patients to 

Additional fee session
Sponsored by the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) 
The role of the geriatrics fellowship director is complex and involves a variety of activities and responsibilities. This session will present practical instruction for both new and seasoned fellowship directors.  Learning Objectives: (1) review changes to the ACGME fellowship program requirements and the Toolbox website; (2) describe issues related to workforce recruitment; and (3) review innovative educational materials and tools.

Additional fee session
Not available for CME/CE Credit        

We are pleased to announce the inaugural meeting of the US Deprescribing Research Network (USDeN) – open to all people who are conducting or care about research on deprescribing medications and addressing medication overuse among older adults. This meeting will comprise a wide-ranging series of sessions and activities that are focused on:

• Enhancing skills, providing multidisciplinary perspectives, and offering practical guidance on and opportunities for deprescribing research
• Communicating how the network can help you and your research interests
• Building collaborations and community among people interested in deprescribing research and how it can be used to improve care for older adults. 

Join us as we build a community of researchers and stakeholders that will generate science, address logistical and safety challenges, and develop infrastructure to promote the conduct and dissemination of research on deprescribing. The meeting will include a Junior Investigator Intensive evening session.  Applications for the Junior Investigator Intensive, travel scholarships, and more information about the meeting and the network’s activities are available at deprescribingresearch.org.
 

Additional Fee Session
Sponsored by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use (ATOD) Among Older Adults Special Interest Group
Moderator: Tiffany Y. Lu, MD, MS
Opioid use disorder increasingly affects older adults, yet treatment for opioid use disorder remains poorly integrated into settings where geriatric patients routinely receive care. Buprenorphine is one of three medications approved by the FDA to treat opioid use disorder, is highly effective, safe in older adults, and can be prescribed by primary care clinicians. Yet a paucity of primary care clinicians and geriatricians are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine. By completing this 8-hour training and passing the exam with 75% or greater, participants will become eligible to apply for the waiver to prescribe buprenorphine in the United States under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000). This training will also have a special focus on buprenorphine prescribing for older adults. The training is open to physicians, nurse practitioners (NP), and physician assistants (PA) however NP/PA need to complete more hours of training beyond this course (24 hours total) per the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) requirements.  Learning Objectives: (1) list factors important to patient selection for office-based buprenorphine treatment; (2) identify the clinically relevant pharmacological characteristics of buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone; and (3) describe the resources needed to establish office-based treatment with buprenorphine and other medications for patients with opioid use disorders.

Additional fee session
Sponsored by the Teachers Section and the Education Committee
Moderator: Mandi Sehgal, MD
This interactive pre-conference session will provide an updated overview of evidence-based geriatric medicine for physicians preparing for initial certification or recertification in geriatric medicine with the ABIM/ABFM. The session will be question-answer-discussion format using content from the latest edition of the Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS). A discounted copy ($100 off list price) of the Digital Edition of the GRS is included in your registration fee for this session. Learning Objectives: (1) describe the tested content areas and their relative weight on the exam using Geriatric Medicine Certification Examination Blueprint; (2) identify areas of relative strength and weakness in their geriatric knowledge, as measured by individual performance on review questions from different content areas; and (3) create a GRS 10 based self-study plan based on their identified strengths and weaknesses, as measured by confidence applying a templated study guide to individual needs.

Additional fee session
Sponsored by the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) 
This interactive pre-conference will provide participants with essential knowledge and leadership skills to successfully manage their geriatrics programs and grow in the field.  Participants will have the opportunity to hear from three generations of Division Chiefs in various settings around the country and learn from their challenges and successes. Session leaders will guide discussion and ensure key takeaways are shared. Participants will also hear from a strategic communications expert on how to use language and tell compelling stories to enhance your program. Through small group activities, attendees will learn how to successfully deliver an elevator speech and practice their newly acquired skills. We also will provide tools and frameworks to guide participants’ learning to help them apply these approaches after the workshop.  Learning Objectives: (1) utilize effective communication skills to impact interactions with leadership, potential supporters, faculty and peers; and (2) identify strategies to effectively run a division. 
 

Chair: Kellie L. Flood, MD
The mission of the Acute Hospital Care SIG is to improve the outcomes of hospitalization of older patients through enhanced clinical care, dissemination of research findings and education of health professionals.  Participants will discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on acute hospital care, prevention and management of geriatric syndromes, and value-based practices.  The SIG meeting is open to all AGS participants.

Co-Chairs: Benjamin Han, MD, MPH; Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH; Justina L. Groeger, MD, MPH 
The purpose of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use (ATOD) Special Interest Group is to address the sharp increase in unhealthy substance use and substance use disorders among older adults. This SIG brings together an interdisciplinary group of professionals with clinical, educational, and/or research interests in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by older adults.

Co-Chairs:  Diane Chau, MD & Vera Sverdlovsky, MD   
The purpose of this SIG is to provide a forum where issues that impact the homeless aging older adult are discussed. The SIG is meant to be a place where the members can interact to find and expand access to care when it comes to caring for Homeless Older Adults.

Co-Chairs: Noll L. Campbell, PharmD, MS & Stephanie L. Garrett, MD, FACP, CHPE
The Clinical Research in Dementia Special Interest Group is committed to networking among AGS members who are dedicated to clinical research in older adults suffering from dementia. Also invited to this SIG are members transitioning to dementia from other focus areas. Members will use this forum to disseminate knowledge and share methods from recent and ongoing projects, as well as identify collaborative opportunities to advance clinical research in dementia.

Chair: Ronan Factora, MD
Elder abuse and neglect is common yet under-recognized and underreported. This group of professionals seeks to address this issue by sharing experiences/ideas and coordinating/collaborating on projects aimed at disseminating knowledge and ultimately helping victims of elder abuse and neglect. Members include national leaders in the field working on research and advocacy, as well as clinicians and educators propagating the importance of this topic to healthcare learners. The Elder Abuse SIG fosters collaboration and networking to develop such initiatives amongst its members to forward its mission throughout the year.

Chair: Jeffery D. Mariano, MD
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary older persons are a vulnerable and resilient group.  The position statement by our organization in 2015 communicated a vision and opportunities to achieve health equity.  This interest group centers on the analysis of health systems and approaches, advocacy, and education.  It is open to all AGS participants who are dedicated to delineating these needs and advocating for older LGBT persons.

Chair: Kenneth W. Lyles, MD
The Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease Special Interest Group has enjoyed meeting at each AGS Annual meeting for over 20 years. We are a collection of clinicians and investigators who enjoy sharing the ideas on how evaluate and manage difficult patients. As a group, we think collectively about what the educational needs of our members are and try to formulate interesting topics about bone diseases to appear on the next year’s annual meeting program. This year our SIG members sponsored a session on the program: “Boning Up on Osteoporosis: The Clinicians’ Role in 2020”. Please attend this session. All are welcome at this SIG meeting.

Chair: Zachary A. Marcum, PharmD, PhD, BCPS & David S. H. Lee, PharmD, PhD
The Polypharmacy SIG meeting is an opportunity for those interested in improving medication use among older adults to share ideas, network, and have some fun. All are welcome!
 

Co-Chairs: Gwendolyn Graddy-Dansby, MD & Susan Hardy, MD
PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) is a comprehensive, fully integrated model which provides community-based care for nursing home eligible frail elders.  This session will provide information to people who are interested in working with or establishing a PACE organization. In addition, people who are currently working with PACE organizations are encouraged to attend to share PACE stories and best practices for management of older adults with chronic diseases. We encourage anyone with questions to come and explore why this model has become so successful.

Chair: Jennifer L. Carnahan, MD, MPH
The Society for General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Interest Group has traditionally been a source of collaborative activity between the American Geriatrics Society and SGIM. Collaborative efforts between geriatricians and general internists who frequently provide care for older adults are synergistic and provide benefits all participants. This interest group will focus on ways to develop products including symposiums and workshops for the annual meetings of both societies, encourage dialogue between members focused on research, education, or clinical care of older adults, and connect members with similar interests with mentorship and opportunity for joint projects outside the annual meetings. We welcome researchers, clinicians, and educators at all levels of training and expertise to our meeting.

Co-Chairs: Megan Young, MD; Timothy W. Farrell, MD, AGSF; Liron Danay Sinvani, MD; Maile Karris, MD
The theme of the 2020 Tideswell Leaders in Aging Program Special Interest Group is geriatric evangelism or spreading the knowledge and passion about taking care of older adults to the greater healthcare community. We will hear from two past Tideswell scholars who are participating in such work. Come connect with current and past scholars to share ideas, collaborate on projects and future workshops.

Please join AGS leaders and staff in celebrating longstanding members of the AGS who are transitioning from major roles or retiring in 2020 and welcoming our new members at the Opening Reception. If you are a new member, this is a perfect opportunity to connect with AGS, ADGAP and Health in Aging Foundation Board members as well as with the leaders of our state affiliates.