The Eldercare Workforce Alliance published a letter to the editor in the February 21, 2010 edition of the New York Times about the shortage of medical professionals trained to work with older adults.
To the Editor:
In addition to the need for more doctors, there is an urgent need for training that is tailored for patients who are over 65.
In the next two decades, the number of Americans who are 65 and older will nearly double. This population often suffers from multiple chronic conditions, frailty or complex illnesses, and faces challenges in gaining access to high-quality, appropriate health care.
Many of the new medical schools billing themselves as different from traditional medical schools would better serve today and tomorrow’s health care needs by focusing on including geriatrics as a standard component in their primary-care curriculum.
A good example is Florida State University, which has a medical school with an explicit focus on ensuring that its graduates are well versed in the care of older adults.z
Medical educators and policy makers should focus on creating a work force of health care professionals that can fully serve our growing elder population.
Marleise Brosnan
Project Director
Eldercare Workforce Alliance
Washington, Feb. 16, 2010
www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/opinion/l22doctors.html