Geriatric Education Center

Administrative Structure of GEC/PA:

Richard Schulz, PhD, Director University of Pittsburgh

Albert J. Finestone, MD Co-Director Temple University

Melissa Hardy, PhD Co-Director Pennsylvania State University

 

Description

The GEC/PA is a consortium established in 1992. Comprised of three university partners strategically located around the state of Pennsylvania--University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State University, and Temple University--GEC/PA is able to utilize regional teams to conduct training programs. The five statutory goals that drive the GEC programs are:

• Improving Training;
• Developing and Disseminating Curricula;
• Leadership Training for Faculty involved in geriatric health education and research;
• Continuing Education for health professionals in both rural and urban underserved areas;
• Clinical Training for students in long-term care and community programs that serve older adults with mental health problems.

 

 

Background

According to the U.S. President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (2003), the status of mental health care for older adults with mental illnesses requires significant improvement. Older adults with mental illnesses frequently go without proper care. Unment needs are particularly common in rural areas which exhibit 85% of federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. Not only are mental health professionals less available in rural areas, but primary care providers who work in rural areas can be unprepared to diagnose or treat mental illnesses. To meet the growing need for mental health care for the elderly, we need to increase training in geriatric mental health for all healthcare providers.  For  more information on the status of geriatric education, please go to:http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/interdisciplinary/gecagenda.html

 

 

Pennsylvania State University Site Team

Melissa Hardy, PhD Director

Carol Gold, PhD (Biobehavioral Health) Coordinator

Noel Ballantine, MD (Geriatrics; Hershey College of Medicine)

Donna Fick, PhD (Nursing)

Michael Green, MD (Internal Medicine, Hershey College of Medicine)

Ann Kolanowski, PhD (Nursing; Director of the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Center)

Benjamin Levi, MD ( , Hershey College of Medicine)

Jon Nussbaum, PhD (Communications)

Robert Schrauf, PhD (Medical Anthropology)

Steven Zarit, PhD (Human Development and Family Studies)

 

The major objectives of the Center include the following:

Objective 1

: In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, educate primary care providers in the diagnosis and management of mental/behavior health disorders and associated comorbid health conditions.

Objective 2

: In partnership with the Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition, provide mental health training for interdisciplinary geriatric health care providers throughout the state.

Objective 3

: Enhance Distance Learning Capacity of GEC/PA by providing mental health training to health care providers working in medically underserved areas of PA.

Objective 4:

Implement a geriatric mental health specialty track with clinical training components in the graduate gerontology certificate program.

Objective 5

: Enhance cultural sensitivity and health literacy of geriatric health care providers.

Objective 6

: Create the next generation of leaders in geriatric mental health education and research.

 

 

 

NAGEC

The National Association of Geriatric Education Centers (NAGEC) plays a central role in addressing the shortage of competently trained health professionals in all disciplines to care for the needs of a growing population of older adults in an aging America. It also recognizes the critical role that GECs must play in DHHS-HRSA’s efforts to train first responders to potential bio-terrorism attacks.  For more information about NAGEC, please visit:  http://www.nagec.org