IU GERIATRICS e-news for February 2006

Medicaid Medical Advisory Cabinet Appoints Counsell
IU Geriatrics and the IU Center for Aging Research are pleased to announce that Steve Counsell, MD, has been appointed as the geriatrician advisor on the Medicaid Medical Advisory Cabinet (MMAC) recently established by Mitch Roob, Secretary of Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration.
   The MMAC will provide clinical expertise and medical advice across activities of the state's Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP), including medical policy development and analysis, managed care, provider relations, and clinical quality improvement.   In addition to clinical expertise, the cabinet advisors also have experience in health services research and program evaluation.  The MMAC is supported by the data and analytic resources of the Regenstrief Institute and will work closely with Jeanne LaBrecque, Director of OMPP, and Dr. Judith A. Monroe, Indiana State Health Commissioner.

 

Darnell Medical Student Geriatrics Achievement Award Names Olin
Congratulations to Amy Marie Olin who was named the first recipient of the Jeffrey C. Darnell Medical Student Geriatrics Achievement Award. Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH, presented an engraved crystal keepsake to Ms. Olin in February. The award was created to honor the founding father of geriatrics at IU, Dr. Jeff Darnell for his dedication and 31 years of service to his patients and to IU Geriatrics. It will be presented annually to a medical student to recognize his or her outstanding leadership and service in the care of older adults.
   Ms. Olin is a third year medical student who is president of the Student Geriatrics Interest Group. Her career goal is to become a  geriatrician. She received a one-year membership to the American Geriatrics Society and an all expense-paid trip to the AGS national meeting in May.  A Darnell Award perpetual plaque will hang in the Medical Science Building to commemorate the honored students.

 

Indiana Geriatrics Society Coming Online
The American Geriatrics Society Website has added Indiana to its state affiliate program map, and  members of AGS may now join the new Indiana Geriatrics Society.  AGS affiliates work to improve the quality of geriatrics education across the US and have proven to be an effective force in shaping healthcare legislation at the state and national level. If you are interested in becoming part of the Indiana Geriatrics Society, please contact Kathy Frank at 317-630-8183.

 

PUBLICATIONS
Congratulations to Cathy Schubert, MD, whose first publication appeared in the January issue of Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The paper was a product of Dr. Schubert's research work, under the mentorship of Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, during the second year of a geriatric medicine fellowship at IU and included data from the PREVENT Study, conducted by the Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute.

Schubert CC, Boustani M, Callahan CM, Perkins AJ, Carney CP, Fox C, Unverzagt F, Hui S, Hendrie HC. Comorbidity profile of dementia patients in primary care: are they sicker? J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Jan;54(1):104-9.

Bakas T, Kroenke K, Plue LD, Perkins SM, Williams LS. Outcomes among family caregivers of aphasic versus nonaphasic stroke survivors. Rehabil Nurs. 2006 Jan-Feb;31(1):33-42.

Chibnall JT, Cook MA, Miller DK. Religious awareness training for medical students: effect on clinical interpersonal behavior. South Med J. 2005 Dec;98(12):1255.

Andresen EM, Miller DK. The future (history) of socioeconomic measurement and implications for improving health outcomes among African Americans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005 Oct;60(10):1345-50.

Morrow DG, Weiner M, Young J, Steinley D, Deer M, Murray MD. Improving medication knowledge among older adults with heart failure: a patient-centered approach to instruction design. Gerontologist. 2005 Aug;45(4):545-52.

Gureje O, Ogunniyi A, Baiyewu O, Price B, Unverzagt FW, Evans RM, Smith-Gamble V, Lane KA, Gao S, Hall KS, Hendrie HC, Murrell JR. APOE epsilon4 is not associated with Alzheimer's disease in elderly Nigerians. Ann Neurol. 2006 Jan;59(1):182-5.

Williams LS. Feeding patients after stroke: who, when, and how. Ann Intern Med. 2006 Jan 3;144(1):59-60.

Krumholz HM, Anderson JL, Brooks NH, Fesmire FM, Lambrew CT, Landrum MB, Weaver WD, Whyte J, Bonow RO, Bennett SJ, et al.; American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures; Writing Committee to Develop Performance Measures on ST-Elevation and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. ACC/AHA clinical performance measures for adults with ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures (Writing Committee to Develop Performance Measures on ST-Elevation and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Jan 3;47(1):236-65.

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Kathy Frank, DNS, RN, has been appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor for IU School of Nursing effective February 1, 2006.

Steve Counsell, MD, was a member of the Indiana state team that was invited to participate in a workshop entitled, “ Evidence-Based Disability and Disease Prevention for Elders: Translating Research into Community-Based Programs” February 14-16, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. The training program was sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Administration on Aging in collaboration with the CDC, NIA, and CMS. Participants learned about existing successful evidence-based programs and how to apply research-based evidence as a standard practice in policy and program development.

Teresa Damush, PhD, attended the VA Health Services Research and Development's 24 th National Meeting held February 15-17, 2006, in Arlington, Virginia. The conference theme was “Implementing Equity: Making Research Work for Diverse Veteran Populations.” The theme was selected because of HSR&D's commitment to promote effective translation of research findings into evidence-based clinical practice that specifically aim to improve the quality of care and eliminate disparities in health and healthcare for veterans.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Callahan, MD, FACP, will present "Learning from the Past: A History of the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care" at the March 1st IU Geriatrics Conference held from 7:30-8:30am in Wishard T2008 A&B.  Dr. Callahan is the Cornelius and Yvonne Pettinga Professor in Aging Research, director of the IU Center for Aging Research, and research scientist in the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. Click here to read a review of Dr. Callahan's book, Reinventing Depression: A History of the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care, 1940-2004

The March 15th IU Geriatrics Conference features Richard Kohler, MD. His presentation, “Treating Pneumonia in Older Adults” will be held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am. Dr. Kohler is professor of medicine in the Infectious Disease Division and vice chair for educational affairs in the Department of Medicine, IUSM.

Irmina Gradus-Pizlo, MD, will present “Updates in CHF Management for Older Adults” at the March 29th IU Geriatrics Conference held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am. Dr. Gradus-Pizlo is associate professor of medicine in the Cardiology Division, IUSM.

The April 5th IU Geriatrics Conference features Kenneth Hsiao, MD. His presentation, “Updates in Urinary Incontinence and Voiding Difficulties in Older Adults,” will be held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am. Dr. Hsiao is assistant professor in the Department of Urology, IUSM.