The VHA's Geriatric Scholars Program Impact on Developing and Disseminating Clinical Innovations

Chair(s)

• BK

  B Josea Kramer, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Associate Director for Ed/Eval, GRECC
  Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
  VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
  Los Angeles, California, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• 

  Judith Howe, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
  Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  Yonkers, New York, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Marianne Shaughnessy, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN (she/her/hers)

  Director, GRECC Programs
  Veterans Health Administration
  Department of Veterans Affairs
  Middle River, Maryland, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Christine Gould, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Psychologist
  Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center
  VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
  Palo Alto, California, United States
• 

  Jolie Crowder, PhD, MSN, RN, CCM (she/her/hers)

  National Elder Care Consultant
  Division of Clinical and Community Services
  Indian Health Service
  Rockville, Maryland, United States

  Slides
• 

  Nicholas Koufacos, LCSW

  Senior Education Specialist
  GRECC
  James J Peters VA Medical Center
  Bronx, New York, United States
• 

  Carol Callaway-Lane, DNP, ACNP-BC (she/her/hers)

  Clinician Educator
  GRECC
  Tennessee Valley VA
  Nashville, Tennessee, United States

  Slides

The Geriatric Scholars Program is an enterprise-wide VA workforce development project that has resulted in significant clinical improvements and innovations in care of older Veterans. The program has invested in the interdisciplinary primary care workforce with discipline-specific core training in geriatrics and in quality improvement. Each of the more than 1500 Scholars to date implements a quality improvement project to demonstrate transfer of new knowledge and skills in the care of older Veterans. Ove 15,000 VHA clinical employees regularly participate in interdisciplinary webinars, team training workshops, practica, and self-directed learning opportunities. There are over 5000 users of the resource website, www.gerischolars.org. This symposium explores some of the direct impacts of continuing professional education on the clinical care of older Veterans. Several program components will be discussed, including replication in Indian Health Service clinics, outcomes for caregivers of older Veterans, practice change for geropsychologists, and how the program's quality improvement mentored program for Geriatric Scholars enhances outcomes for patients in VHA. The Geriatric Scholars Program has 15 Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) partners in its network that have worked together for over 15 years to build capacity in the VHA healthcare workforce through innovative education and clinical approaches. The national GRECC Director in VHA will serve as discussant for what promises to be a lively exchange of ideas and opportunities for replication.

Presentations:

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Impact of Geriatric Scholars Program Psychology Track Activities on VA Psychologists' Clinical Practice
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Christine E. Gould, PhD (she/her/hers) – VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  US Indian Health Service: Developing a Community of Primary Care Champions for Tribal Elder Care
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jolie Crowder, PhD, MSN, RN, CCM (she/her/hers) – Indian Health Service
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  Geriatric Scholars: Innovative Support for Caregivers of Veterans With Dementia
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Nicholas Koufacos, LCSW – James J Peters VA Medical Center
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST

  The VA Geriatric Scholars Program Impact on Clinical Innovations: QI Component Impacts Over the Past Decade
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Carol Callaway-Lane, DNP, ACNP-BC (she/her/hers) – Tennessee Valley VA