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Untitled Document
EDUCATION
Postgraduate Training in Geriatric
Psychiatry
Residents entering postgraduate training in
psychiatry and anticipating a career in adult or child psychiatry will have an
opportunity to learn about psychogeriatric assessment and care. Residents are
expected to complete a six-block rotation in geriatric psychiatry during their
PGY3 year. Educational objectives have been developed and reflect the
CanMEDs
Guidelines. Mood disorders, delirium
and dementia assessment and treatment will be the focus of the rotations.
Clinical exposure to psychosis, complex co-morbidity, anxiety and substance
abuse will be provided. Residents will be expected to assess and follow patients
in various treatment settings and are provided supervision with short and
long-term patients.
The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry offers a
wide range of clinical opportunities, including inpatient care, outpatient care,
community service programs, consultation liaison assessments, ECT Clinic and Day
Hospital through St. Joseph's Health Care, London Health Sciences Centre and
long term care facilities. Residents will have the opportunity to collaborate
with other practitioners in geriatric care; for example, there is availability
to work with geriatricians and neurologists who specialize in the assessment of
patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
The richness that Geriatric Psychiatry brings
to the care of the elderly will be explored with the residents. They will have
an opportunity to work with multi-disciplinary teams and learn from skilled
health care colleagues such as pharmacists, occupational therapists, registered
nurses, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, psychologist and
psychometrists.
Formal teaching includes involvement in modules
on geriatric issues. Residents can present at the Department of Psychiatry’s
Continuing Professional Development Grand Rounds.
Resident trainees will have an opportunity to
be involved with teaching and research opportunities. During an enriched
experience, residents will be able to work in various clinical care settings.
The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry can also provide enriched clinical
experiences for residents seeking a fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry. Staff is
currently involved with research, projects and educational opportunities.
Residents are encouraged to pursue research
projects under the supervision of the faculty members in the Division. The
residency program has developed a research interest group where the residents
can present their ideas and get feedback and support to help them develop
projects. Funding for resident run projects is available through the
departmental seed fund. Competitions take place twice a year, and resident
projects take priority for funding. Some residents in previous years have been
awarded internal grants from the Department of Psychiatry for projects pursued
within our Division's clinical settings. The Division Journal Club is another
avenue where research papers are discussed and critiqued.
The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry also
participates in Family Medicine teaching at the PGY1 and PGY2 level through the
Psychiatry lecture series. Opportunities for supervision of geriatric medicine
fellows and family medicine residents are also available.
Undergraduate Medical Education
The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
contributes to teaching medical students in the Schulich School of Medicine &
Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, through the first and second year
psychiatry lecture series and a clinical methods course in conjunction with the
undergraduate education committee.
As of fall 2011, Geriatric Psychiatry will be
providing a two-week selective experience during the psychiatry clerkship
rotation. Students will come away with a unique and holistic approach to the
care of the elderly and also have an opportunity to work within a
multi-disciplinary team. Skills gained through this two-week rotation will
develop their ability to assess and diagnose depression, dementia and delirium.
The students completing a two-week rotation will have enhanced skills as they
enter the last year of medical school and proceed to their residency training.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry is
involved with CPD initiatives through CPD in the Department of Psychiatry,
provincial initiatives through the
Alzheimer Society, and through
Southwestern Ontario Geriatric Assessment Network (SWOGAN). The Division looks
forward to celebrating its Tenth Annual Geriatric Psychiatry Symposium in 2012.
Each year the Symposium welcomes over 120 participants to the all day,
Continuing Professional Development accredited event, which features keynote
speakers and twelve concurrent workshops on various topics of interest to
clinicians, support workers, researchers, and trainees working with older
adults.
The Division also has members who participate
in the Alzheimer Society educational activities for family physicians and are
also involved in providing education to
Ontario
Long Term Care Physicians.
Members of the Division participate in SWOGAN with Geriatric Medicine and Family
Medicine colleagues, providing ongoing education and mentoring in the care of
the elderly for family physicians and healthcare professionals with a special
interest in geriatric care. Members also participate in the
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health,
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry,
the
Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry
and the
International Psychogeriatric Association,
by presenting educational and research seminars and abstracts. This is a
continued focus of the Division as it builds its reputation provincially and
nationally for excellence in research, education and clinical care. Please see
the ‘Upcoming Events’ link for presentations of interest to those involved in
elder care.
Subspecialty Training
This past year marks a watershed moment for
Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Canada accepted the application for a formal subspecialty program in
Geriatric Psychiatry. This advancement recognizes the specialized knowledge and
contributions that geriatric psychiatrists play in the advancement of research,
education, and psychiatric care of older adults. It heightens the importance of
the entire specialty of geriatric mental health and the specialized
interdisciplinary health care professionals, educators and researchers. The
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry exemplifies this excellence through our
continued contributions to our community through our academic, educational and
clinical service achievements.
More information on the
subspecialty program in Geriatric Psychiatry
is available on the Royal College website.
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