Project Description:
The University of Alaska, Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and University of Alaska Southeast Sitka have formed a consortium to create the Alaska Geriatric Education Center (AKGEC). The AKGEC is committed to cultivating national and statewide affiliations which expand and enhance the public?s, community health professionals?, academic health professions faculty, and university students? knowledge in the areas of geriatrics, health literacy, health promotion, ethnogeriatrics, and interdisciplinary health care team practices. Through collaborative partnerships with state public health, recognized university training centers, community health care facilities, and area health agencies, the AKGEC will draw from community and academic resources to improve and enhance the instructional capacity in the area of geriatrics through training and retraining of faculty; support clinical training in geriatrics and expand interdisciplinary training opportunities through enhancement of partnerships with nursing homes, chronic and acute disease hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and senior centers; support and enhance opportunities in continuing education training for health professionals who provide geriatric care; enhance and expand the capacity to develop and disseminate health-related curricula and information related to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of disease, disability, and other problems of the elderly.
With substantial attention given to the health care needs of medically underserved elderly populations and those health care facilities providing for their needs, the Alaska GEC proposes to meet the five statutory health professions purposes through three major goals:
Goal 1 - With a major emphasis on health literacy, health promotion, ethnogeriatrics, and interdisciplinary team clinical practice, the AKGEC will support and enhance instructional capacity in the area of geriatrics for health professions faculty and students in nursing, social work, psychology, and family medicine.
Goal 2 - Improve the relevance, effectiveness, and accessibility of geriatric training opportunities for health professionals through establishment of core competency standards and instructional guidelines appropriate for Alaska.
Goal 3 - Expand and enhance the capacity to develop and disseminate health related information and curricula related to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of disease, disability, and other problems of the elderly through a variety of venues targeting health professionals.
Keyword(s):
geriatrics, gerontology, professional training, curriculum
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Urban
