IU GERIATRICS electronic news for April 2004

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research congratulate David Wilcox, MD, CMD, who has been appointed by Governor Joe Kernan to the 14-member Indiana Health Facilities Council. The council deals with regulations for assisted living and nursing facilities in Indiana. In addition, Dr. Wilcox and Jackie Sullivan, RN, MSN, GNP, have been asked to present a program on wound care to the deputy attorney general and her investigators.

Congratulations to David M. Smith, MD, and Frederick W. Unverzagt, PhD, who were co-authors of one of the most influential geriatric research papers in 2003 as cited in the Annals of Internal Medicine's December 16, 2003 "Update in Geriatric Medicine." Their paper, "Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: a randomized controlled trial," presented the results of the ACTIVE Study which found that cognitive training improved memory, reasoning, and speed of processing. Indianapolis was one of 6 metropolitan U.S. study sites. The Indiana University School of Medicine was well represented in this Annals update with the ACTIVE Study and the IMPACT Study (March e-news) both being cited for their noteworthy geriatric research papers. Congratulations ACTIVE!

AWARDS

Director of Geriatrics Dr. Steve Counsell announces that the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust awarded $200,000 to the Wishard Memorial Foundation for support of GRACE - the Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Collaborative Care for Elders Program. Now in its third year, GRACE coordinates care through a specialized geriatrics team and community services to help low-income seniors maintain their health and independence. Funds from the Trust will be used over two years and will allow the program to continue serving 500 of Wishard's most vulnerable older patients. GRACE is also supported as a clinical trial by the National Institute on Aging.

PUBLICATIONS

Boustani M, Watson L. The Interface of Depression and Dementia. Psychiatric Times. 2004 March; 21(3).

Watson LC, Boustani MA. The State of Mental Health in Assisted Living. Geriatric Care Management Journal. 2004 Winter; 14(1):4-7.

Hou N, Chui MA, Eckert GJ, Oldridge NB, Murray MD, Bennett SJ. Relationship of age and sex to health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure. Am J Crit Care. 2004 Mar;13(2):153-61.

Stroupe KT, Teal EY, Weiner M, Gradus-Pizlo I, Brater DC, Murray MD. Health care and medication costs and use among older adults with heart failure. Am J Med. 2004 Apr 1;116(7):443-50.

PRESENTATIONS

On April 22nd, Steve Counsell, MD, Director, IU Geriatrics Program and Gene Lammers, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Center for Geriatric Medicine, Methodist Hospital, presented to the Board of Directors, Clarian Health Partners, Inc. their ongoing collaborative efforts to develop a Geriatrics Center of Excellence (CoE). The Geriatrics CoE is a partnership between Clarian Health and IU School of Medicine and will include clinical services, education and research programs. Kathy Frank, RN, DNS, IU Geriatrics Program Administrator, and Melanie Pumphrey, MHA, IUMG-PC Geriatrics Manager, serve on the Geriatrics CoE Strategic Planning Team. Chris Callahan, MD, Director, IU Center for Aging Research, and Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH, Director, Geriatrics Education, are members of the Geriatrics CoE Steering Committee.

As keynote speaker, Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, presented "How Well Do Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes Assess and Treat Behavioral Symptoms/Agitation of Residents with Dementia?" at the March 25th summit, Caring for Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Assisted Living, held in Indianapolis. The summit was designed to begin a dialogue among physicians, providers, caregivers and families to identify ways to provide the most effective quality of care for seniors with Alzheimer's and related dementias. In attendance were Mary Guerriero Austrom, PhD, Bridget Fultz, MA, Trish Moore, MSN, RN, CNS, and Cora Hartwell, RN, ANP.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, Mary Guerriero Austrom, PhD, Martin Farlow, MD, and Ann Marie Hake, MD, were quoted in "Brain Power: Alzheimer research progresses at IU Med School" in the March 24, 2004 issue of NUVO.

Mick Murray, PharmD, MPH was a scientific section co-chair for the symposium, "Hormone Replacement Therapy: Cardioprotective or a Disaster" at the Annual Meeting American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics held March 24-27 in Miami Beach, Florida. Mick also made a podium presentation, "Health Literacy Predicts Medication Adherence," at the ASCPT annual meeting.

Bridget Fultz, MA, attended the 50th Annual Kirkpatrick Memorial Conference on Aging held at Ball State University on April 15. The daylong event, "The Next Fifty Years: The Business of Aging," was sponsored by the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology and featured speakers on the business impact of health, media, and technology in adapting to the aging population.

IUCAR scientists presented research posters on April 16, 2004 for the Regenstrief Institute Board of Directors meeting held in the atrium of the Medical Science Building.

Gregory P. Gramelspacher, MD, presented "U.S. Healthcare in Crisis" on April 17, 2004 for the Ethics After Easter Forum at St. Alban's Episcopal Church.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

David A. Haber, PhD, will present "Health Contracts with Sedentary Older Adults," Tuesday, April 27, 8:30 - 9:30am, in the Regenstrief Institute 6th floor boardroom. Dr. Haber is the John and Janice Fisher Distinguished Professor of Wellness and is Associate Director of the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology at Ball State University.

Gregory P. Gramelspacher, MD, will present "Talking with Dying Patients: Good Communication at the End of Life" on April 28, 7:00-8:00 am for Neurosurgery Grand Rounds in Fesler Hall, Room 211B (Hurty Hall).

The May 12 IU Geriatrics Conference features Cathy Schubert, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. Her presentation, "Comorbidity in Dementia: Should We Care?" will be in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am.

Dr. Timothy Sutton will present "Aspects of Renal Failure in Older Adults," at the May 19 IU Geriatrics Conference held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am. Dr. Sutton is assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology, IU School of Medicine.