IU GERIATRICS e-news for September 2005

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research welcomed several new employees to our staffs during the past few months. Read about these additions below...

 

IU Geriatrics goes to Indiana University Hospital! Dr. Cathy Schubert is now offering Acute Care for Elders or "ACE" Consults at Indiana University Hospital . Beginning September 13th, Dr. Schubert began seeing patients referred by the hospitalists, hematologists and oncologists to assist with geriatric syndromes such as delirium, and help prevent the functional decline that may occur when an older adult is hospitalized with an acute medical illness. For the history books, this is the first formal geriatric medicine service ever provided at Indiana University Hospital. Go Dr. Schubert... and Think ACE!

 

Danielle Jaber, BA, began duties as the Geriatrics Practice Manager for IU Geriatrics in September. A graduate of Ball State University, Danielle returns to Indiana after managing and directing marketing and development activities for businesses serving older adults in the mid-Atlantic area. She is responsible for achieving geriatrics objectives in terms of health care delivery and business performance, through coordinating daily interactions with physicians and nurse practitioners, site managers/directors and personnel, and assisting in directing business and clinical operations within all geriatrics sites and areas of responsibility. Welcome and good luck, Danielle!
 

During the past several months, a growing list of IUCAR research activities led to the creation of new staff positions with the Center. Pictured are new employees (L to R) Kirk Riutta, Rashid Owoyele, and Nathan Boyer.  

 
Kirk Riutta, MA, joined IUCAR in July as a project coordinator. He works on research activities and projects conducted by Dr. Doug Miller. Kirk recently completed the Research Coordinators Education Program which is designed to introduce the research coordinator to critically important concepts, requirements, and practical aspects of coordinating research studies across all types of clinical research at Indiana University.
 

Nate Boyer, BS, joined the Center for Aging Research in August as a research assistant. Nathan hails from Boise, Idaho, and in 2005 received a degree in biology from the University of Washington in Spokane. He's working on Dr. Malaz Boustani's PRIDE, PISCES and e-CHAMP projects.

 

Rashid Owoyele joined IUCAR in September as a research assistant. He currently works on two IU-Roybal projects, Dr. Mike Weiner's “Arthritis at Home” research and Dr. Rich Frankel's “Health Enhancement and Literacy Project.” Rashid is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Health at IUPUI.
 

PUBLICATIONS
Clark DO, Callahan CM, Counsell SR. Reliability and validity of a steadiness score. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Sep;53(9):1582-6.

Champion V, Skinner CS, Menon U. Development of a self-efficacy scale for mammography. Res Nurs Health. 2005 Aug;28(4):329-36.

Farlow MR, Small GW, Quarg P, Krause A. Efficacy of rivastigmine in Alzheimer's disease patients with rapid disease progression: results of a meta-analysis. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2005;20(2-3):192-7. Epub 2005 Aug 3.

Ichikawa S, Koller DL, Peacock M, Johnson ML, Lai D, Hui S, Johnston CC, Foroud TM, Econs MJ. Polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor {beta}(ESR2) gene are associated with bone mineral density in caucasian men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Aug 23; [Epub ahead of print]

Giesler RB, Given B, Given CW, Rawl S, Monahan P, Burns D, Azzouz F, Reuille KM, Weinrich S, Koch M, Champion V. Improving the quality of life of patients with prostate carcinoma: a randomized trial testing the efficacy of a nurse-driven intervention. Cancer. 2005 Aug 15;104(4):752-62.

Sabbagh MN, Hake AM, Ahmed S, Farlow MR. The use of memantine in dementia with Lewy bodies. J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Aug;7(4):285-9.
 

PRESENTATIONS
Kevin Terrell, DO, MS, presented the poster, “Emergency Care of Nursing Home Residents: A Focus Group Investigation,” at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Midwest Annual Meeting on September 12, 2005, in Detroit, Michigan. SAEM's mission is to improve patient care by advancing research and education in emergency medicine.

Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, presented geriatrics grand rounds entitled, “Enhancing Care for Hospitalized Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment” at the University of Wisconsin on September 21, 2005. Attendees included geriatrics clinicians and researchers.

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Robin Beck, MD, and the House Calls program of Senior Care at Wishard were featured in the fourth annual Wishard Telethon which was televised on August 8, 2005. The telethon raises funds and awareness for the programs and medical care provided by Wishard Health Services. The event is broadcast across central Indiana and generates a great deal of public awareness about the critical role Wishard plays in caring for our community.  

Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc, attended the International Pychogeriatric Association 12th Congress held September 20-24, 2005, in Stockholm, Sweden. The theme of the meeting was “Aging with Dignity: New Challenges, New Possibilities, New Solutions.” The IPA, founded in 1982, is a diverse professional healthcare community promoting better geriatric mental health – across disciplines, across borders, and across geriatric issues. 

Chris Callahan, MD, has been named to the National Institutes of Health Study Section entitled Health Services Organization and Delivery (HSOD). The HSOD Study Section reviews health services research studies that include multidisciplinary investigations of the predictors, processes and outcomes of health services, including availability, access and acceptability; organization; decision-making; delivery, utilization and quality of care; and costs, cost-effectiveness and financing of health care. Health services include inpatient, ambulatory, sub-acute, acute, community-based, rehabilitative and long-term care.

Michael Weiner, MD, MPH, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Society of General Internal Medicine's Communications Committee. He also is Chair of the committee's Strategic Planning Group. The committee develops and recommends to the SGIM Council policies and methods to govern and promote effective communication among members, other organizations, and the public.
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Greg Gramelspacher, MD, will present “Helping Family Members & Patients with End of Life Care Issues” at the October 19th IU Geriatrics Conference from 7:30-8:30am in Wishard T2008 A&B. Dr. Gramelspacher is associate professor of medicine and medical director for Palliative Care at Wishard.

The November 2nd IU Geriatrics Conference features Meg Gaffney, MD. Her presentation, “Update in Dermatology for Older Adults,” will be held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am . Dr. Gaffney is a practicing dermatologist and clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine.

IU GERIATRICS electronic news is published monthly by the IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research. To subscribe, email Nancy Nienaber Buchanan at nnienaber@regenstrief.org.