Internal Medicine Residents' Ambulatory Management of Core Geriatric Conditions

ABSTRACT Background Adults aged 65 years and older account for more than 33% of annual visits to internal medicine (IM) generalists and specialists. Geriatrics experiences are not standardized for IM residents. Data are lacking on IM residents' continuity experiences with older adults and competencies relevant to their care. Objective To explore patient demographics and the prevalence of common geriatric conditions in IM residents' continuity clinics. Methods We collected data on age and sex for all IM residents' active clinic patients during 2011–2012. Academic site continuity panels for 351 IM residents were drawn from 4 academic medical center sites. Common geriatric conditions, defined by Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders measures and the American Geriatrics Society IM geriatrics competencies, were identified through International Classification of Disease, ninth edition, coded electronic problem lists for residents' patients aged 65 years and older and cross-checked by audit of 20% of patients' cha...