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Can Fam Physician
Vol. 55, No. 5, May 2009, pp.510 - 511.e4
Copyright © 2009 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada
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Research

Care of the elderly training

Implications for family medicine

Christopher Frank, MD and Rachelle Seguin, MA MPA
Dr Frank is a family physician in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at St Mary’s of the Lake Hospital in Kingston, Ont, and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston. At the time of this study, Ms Seguin was a researcher for the Centre for Studies in Primary Care in the Dpartment of Family Medicine at Queen’s University

Correspondence: Dr C. Frank, St Mary’s of the Lake Hospital, 340 Union St, Kingston, ON K7L 5A2; telephone: 613 548-7222, extension 2208; fax: 613 544-4017; e-mailfrankc{at}providencecare.ca

OBJECTIVE To examine the practice patterns and clinical and academic roles of family physicians who have care of the elderly training.

DESIGN Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING  Family medicine practices or specialized geriatric services programs.

PARTICIPANTS  Fifty-two family physicians, surveyed in 2005 and 2006, identified as having 6 or 12 months’ care of the elderly training.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES  Self-reported practice type and description of clinical and academic roles.

RESULTS Surveys were sent to 103 physicians; the response rate was 50.5% (N = 52). Respondents were relatively young, with a mean age of 42 years. Slightly more respondents had completed 6 months of training than had completed a full year of training (54.9% vs 45.1%). More than half (55.8%) described their medical practice areas as "general family medicine." The remainder worked in "restricted practices" (25.0%) or provided "specialist care" (17.3%); 1 physician was no longer practising medicine. Many provided some care within specialized geriatric service areas, most commonly in-hospital consultation and rehabilitation. More than half (51.9%) provided active hospital care, and a substantial number worked in long-term care facilities as physicians or medical directors. More than 20% provided newborn care, although only a small percentage (7.7%) performed obstetric services. Respondents were actively involved in teaching and other academic activities, including resident supervision.

CONCLUSION Care of the elderly physicians provide comprehensive family medicine services, but also often provide care in other areas currently facing physician shortages. Care of the elderly physicians play relevant clinical and academic roles in both family medicine training and specialized geriatric services.






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