Program for Wednesday May 11, 2022

Additional fee session

HELP has been working to make health systems safer and health care more effective for over two decades, preventing delirium, functional decline, falls, and other adverse outcomes among hospitalized older adults. The program ultimately promotes a growing trend toward “age-friendly health systems,” so named because they promote unique expertise on geriatrics focal points: care for the mind, medications, mobility, and what “matters most” to patients. Join us at the AGS CoCare®: HELP Preconference and learn how to implement strategies for sustainability & longevity to ensure success of HELP in the hospital and potential strategies for family and caregiver involvement to improve patient care. 

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 include family and caregivers in your AGS CoCare®: HELP program in their hospital; (4) review the role of the Elder Life Nurse Specialist and how to retain and provide professional development; (5) describe strategies for success in developing a business case for your AGS CoCare®: HELP programs; (6) discuss perioperative multidisciplinary delirium prevention and how that aligns with AGS CoCare®: HELP; (7) identify business principles for aligning AGS CoCare®: HELP program goals with organizational priorities; and (8) describe strategies for success and sustainability for AGS CoCare®: HELP programs. 

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 topics of interest and 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 leadership and life skills; and (3) review innovative educational materials and tools.  

Supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation
Moderator: Joan C. Weiss, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, Deputy Director, Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

This pre-conference session is limited to HRSA GWEP awardees. Learning Objectives: (1) describe how to build and implement  Age-Friendly processes in participants’ own health systems; (2) discuss the relationship between education activities and processes of care; (3) utilize different strategies to accelerate diversity, equity, and inclusion, among both participants’ staff and the older adults they care for; and (4) describe the current funding environment in the U.S. Congress and learn techniques to become an effective advocate for health care priorities, such as GWEP funding. 

We are pleased to announce the in-person annual meeting of the US Deprescribing Research Network – 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. Click here to learn more. If you’re a student or resident registering for the USDeN In-Person Annual Meeting, please visit: https://deprescribingresearch.org/network-activities/annual-network-meeting/ for a discount code to waive the registration fee.

Additional fee session

Sponsored by the Teachers Section and the Education Committee
Moderator: Becky B. Powers, MD, AGSF
This question-and-answer-style review session aims to prepare attendees for certification or recertification in geriatric medicine with the ABIM/ABFM. Representative questions from the latest edition of the Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS) will be presented in an interactive format. Attendees will utilize these questions to determine their strengths and weakness and will develop a personalized study plan by the end of the session. A discounted copy ($100 off list price) of the Digital Edition of the GRS-11 is included in the 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 geriatric knowledge, as measured by individual performance on review questions from different content areas; and (3) create a GRS-based self-study plan based on identified strengths and weaknesses, as measured by confidence applying a templated study guide to individual needs.
 

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.  

This session is focused on making the business case for geriatrics and will start with an overview of the external disrupters that are reshaping the current health care environment in ways that impact academic geriatrics programs. This overview will be followed by presentations addressing the impact of Medicare Advantage contracts on geriatrics academic divisions. Following these presentations, there will be an opportunity for a roundtable discussion and to share what attendees are seeing at their own institutions. During the latter half of the session, speakers will share their perspectives, successes, and lessons learned in making the business case for geriatrics within their own institutions. A second roundtable discussion is planned for attendees to share their own learnings about making the business case with the goal of identifying successful strategies. Considering this is a business-related session, Program Administrators are also encouraged to participate. Learning Objectives: (1) identify the external disrupters that are reshaping the current health care environment; (2) describe the impact of Medicare Advantage contracts on geriatrics academic divisions; and (3) utilize strategies learned to develop the business case for geriatrics at their own institutions. 

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 drugs 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 to 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. This 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. 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 LGBTQ+ persons.

Co-Chairs: Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, MHS and Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH
The Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases 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 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. All are welcome at this SIG meeting.

Chair: Nagham Ailabouni, BPharm, PhD; Ariel Green, MD, MPH, PhD; Joshua D. Niznik, PharmD, PhD & Scott M. Vouri, PharmD, PhD, BCGP
The AGS Polypharmacy and Deprescribing SIG is dedicated to issues related to medication optimization in older adults. Our goal is to facilitate education and discussion on this topic, both within the group and for a wider audience. The SIG accomplishes this by encouraging open dialogue during AGS annual meetings and through the participation of our members in the online forum, in addition to generating and sponsoring symposia at the AGS Annual Meeting. The SIG also exists to promote networking and contacts for people interested in medication optimization in older persons.

Co-Chairs: Gwendolyn Graddy-Dansby, MD & Susan Hardy, MD
PACE is a comprehensive, fully integrated model which provides community-based care for nursing home eligible frail elders.  This SIG provides 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 Carnahan, MD, MPH, MA
The SGIM Interest Group has traditionally been a source of collaborative activity between the AGS and SGIM. Collaborative efforts between geriatricians and general internists who frequently provide care for older adults are synergistic and provide benefits for all participants. This interest group will focus on ways to develop products including symposia 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 Sinvani, MD; Maile Karris, MD
The mission of the SIG is to support Tideswell scholars and leaders in geriatrics through mentorship, networking, continued leadership training, and scholarship with the ultimate goal of a commitment to enhancing the care of older adults through clinical work, research and education.