ECHO-Chicago: Geriatrics for Skilled Nursing Facilities Online Course is organized by The University of Chicago - Center for Continuing Medical Education and will be held during Mar 08 - May 24, 2018.

The target audience for this medical event is physicians and other healthcare professionals interested in the care and treatment of geriatric patients in a post-acute facility. This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Course Description:
A national shortage of specialty and primary care providers has limited access to care for many Americans with chronic diseases. Barriers to health care access are especially acute in low-income communities where people have public insurance or no insurance at all. Older adults living in these communities contend with elevated rates of diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, arthritis and other chronic conditions leading to disability, functional losses, and cognitive decline. The South Side of Chicago is one of the most medically underserved communities in the U.S. The number of older adults living below the poverty line is twice the national average and 7 of the 8 poorest neighborhoods in Chicago are within UCM’s primary service area on the South Side. In addition, there is high level of need for, as well as a national shortage of, providers with expertise in caring for older adults. According to Chicago Health Atlas, the current and future geriatrician shortfall in Illinois is estimated to be over 700 geriatricians and the ratio of primary care providers to residents in the majority of South Side neighborhoods is less than half of the Chicago average. Clearly, there is a large unmet need for access to resources and primary care providers with expertise in care for older adults.

The ECHO-Chicago Geriatrics curriculum improves health outcomes for older adults by creating a robust, engaged network of interdisciplinary care providers who share resources and education to improve health for older adults on Chicago’s South Side.

Conference Objectives are :
At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
• Distinguish between typical signs of aging and symptoms associated with other health problems that may need treatment;
• Identify conditions that can be treated at a post-acute care facility versus those that would be better treated at a hospital;
• Generate a treatment plan for management of dementia in geriatric patients;
• Identify basic and best practices in post-acute care for surgical recovery & rehabilitation, anticoagulation, and infections;
• Describe polypharmacy and appropriate medication management for older adults;
• Assess the healthcare professional’s role in advanced care planning including important topics such as power of attorney and living will.

Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.