Enhanced Skills Program: Care of the Elderly Acute Care Rotation Goals and Objectives

By the end of the rotation the resident will be able to:

Perform a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including all parameters relevant for an acute care patient.
Demonstrate comprehensive assessment and management of common and complex geriatric syndromes in the acute care patient.
Recognize common disease processes which may present atypically in the older adult in an acute care setting and contrast this to younger adults (e.g. pneumonia, infection, acute syndrome).
Identifies relevant priorities for management based on the patient’s perspective, urgency and context.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills specifically in the assessment and management of delirium.
- formulate a differential for possible causes
- develop plans for evaluation of delirium
- develop plans for management of delirium
Identify and participate in efforts to reduce hazards of hospitalization including:
- delirium
- falls
- immobility
- pressure ulcers
- medication-related adverse effects

Develop rapport, trust and ethical therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Accurately elicit and synthesize information from, and the perspectives of, patients and families. Gather information about the patient’s beliefs, concerns and illness experience, including adjusting for impairments and disabilities.
Accurately convey needed information and provide explanations to patients and families in a way that is understandable and encourages discussion and participation in decision-making.
Develops a common understanding of issues, problems and plans with patients and families and provides and follows-up on a shared plan of care. Attempts to incorporate patient wishes even in situations of diminishing individual capacity.
Convey effective oral and written communication

Participate effectively and appropriately in an interprofessional healthcare team.
Collaborate with community agencies (as required)
Collaborate effectively with other professionals.
Manage differences and resolve conflict between team members
Effectively presents verbal reports of clinical encounters and plans to all members of the healthcare team

Make cost-effective use of health care resources based on sound judgement, balancing resources to maximize benefits to all patients
Manage patient flow in an acute care setting.
Contribute to the health care team; delegate and distribute tasks fairly
Uses time wisely within the health care team
Demonstrate time management skills to reflect and balance priorities for patient care, sustainable practice, and personal life.

Respond to individual patient health needs and issues as part of patient care within an acute care setting
Respond to the health needs of the communities that they serve
Identify determinants of health within their communities, including barriers to accessing care and resources upon discharge from hospital
Promote the health of individual patients, communities and populations

Maintain and enhance professional activities through ongoing self-directed learning.
Critically evaluate medical literature, summarizes information and presents to the team.
Apply evidence-based literature appropriately to the care of older patients.

Recognize and appropriately respond to ethical issues encountered in the acute care setting.
Fulfill the regulatory and legal obligations required of current practice in the acute care setting.
Demonstrate a commitment to physician health and sustainable practice
Demonstrate a commitment to reflective practice
- gather information about personal performance, know one’s owns limits, and seek help appropriately
- demonstrate awareness of self and an understanding of how one’s attitudes and feeling impact their practice
- reflect on practice events, especially critical incidents, to deepen self-knowledge