Major Funding Received for Geriatrics Training

The University of Utah School of Medicine has been selected to receive a $1 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to improve physician training in geriatric medicine, the Las Vegas-based foundation announced Friday.

The University of Utah is one of 10 institutions selected nationwide to receive funding as part of the foundation’s 2012 call for proposals for its “Next Steps in Physicians’ Training In Geriatrics” grants. Recipients of the grants are continuing work already started to improve the quality of life for America’s elderly by preparing physicians to provide better care for frail older people. [Read full press release here]

Grant Description

University of Utah Health Care and School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT - $1,000,000

The University of Utah proposes to develop a competency-based training program in patient quality, safety, and care transitions grounded in principles of geriatric medicine for all of its graduate medical education (GME) trainees. The entry level for all 27 residency and 41 fellowship programs will include required quality and safety training modules, review of Patient Safety Net reports involving older patients, and timely completion of a discharge summary on the day of discharge to a skilled nursing facility. The advanced level will target six residency programs involved in Chief Resident Immersion Training (CRIT) and the ten fellowship programs within Internal Medicine subspecialties. These trainees will receive advanced geriatrics training consisting of didactic materials, case-based presentations, and support with their quality improvement projects from geriatrician and hospitalist faculty. This new GME-focused training program will impact approximately 250 physicians each year to promote high quality, safe care for the geriatric patients they will encounter throughout their