Elective Years 3 and 4: Geriatric Psychiatry

Department: Psychiatry
Title:

Geriatric Psychiatry

Diversification = R1 Psychiatry

Location:
  1. Villa Caritas Hospital, 16515 - 88 Avenue, Edmonton Alberta T5R 0A4
  2. Northern Alberta Regional GeriatricProgram, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
Duration:

Minimum 2 weeks

Contact:

University of Alberta Students: Placement Contact and Undergraduate Medical Lead, Dr Shreyasi Brodhecker Shreyasi.Brodhecker@covenanthealth.ca
Preceptor: Dr Shreyasi.Brodhecker

Request through MedSIS

Visiting Medical Students: visitingelectives@ualberta.ca
Apply through the AFMC Student Portal

Overview:

This elective is intended to provide medical students with the opportunity to be exposed to the full spectrum of clinical problems seen in geriatric psychiatry practice.  The geriatric psychiatry milieu will enable the medical student to experience a number of diverse and heterogeneous elderly patients in mixed inpatient and outpatient (including community and long-term care) settings.

There is opportunity to assist in assessment, case formulation, treatment planning and consultation, all within a multidisciplinary framework.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this elective, medical students will develop the attitudes, knowledge and skills about the elderly to prepare them to diagnose, treat and manage geriatric patients effectively.

Knowledge to Gain:

  • Increase awareness and understanding of th developmental processes of late life and the biopsychosocial issues associated with aging
  • Develop first-hand knowledge of the nature, course, treatment and outcome of common psychiatric disorders in the elderly
  • Understand the spectrum of health care systems providing care for the elderly, through opportunity to work in acute, community and long-term care setting.

Skills to acquire:

  • Develop competence in the psychiatric assessment of the older patient, including appropriate interviewing skills and full mental status examination, including cognitive assessment
  • Develop comfort and confidence in interdisciplinary assessment and management
  • Develop an appreciation for the psychosocial, cognitive and physical changes in the elderly and awareness of developmental issues across the lie span

Attitudes to learn:

  • Develop collaborative an respectful relationships that demonstrate gender, cultural and age related awareness and respect
  • Recognize and constructively deal with ageism and biased attitudes to the elderly
Additional Notes:

No prerequisites necessary but prefer completion of general psychiatry rotation.

This elective includes a mix of inpatient and outpatient exposure, with commutes to various clinic sites; therefore, access to a vehicle is necessary for an optimal learning experience.

Visiting Students: NETCARE ACCESS REQUIRED FOR THIS ELECTIVE:

Students MUST request access for Netcare A MINIMUM OF 6 WEEKS before the elective start date.  Students who do not place this request before the 6 week deadline will not be granted access.  Once visiting students have applied through the AFMC Student Portal and their elective is confirmed, a confirmation email will automatically be generated with further instructions and the online training link for Netcare.

Last Updated: October 12, 2018