Geriatrics in the 21st Century is an interdisciplinary, participant driven, 160-hour training/retraining program. It is designed for both academic faculty teaching in institutions of higher education in Arkansas as well as healthcare professionals with an interest in geriatrics. This program must be completed in a 12 month period. Support for this program is underwritten by a grant from US Health Resources and Services Administration awarded to the Arkansas Geriatric Education Center (AGEC).
The following disciplines are invited to participate in this program: nursing, pharmacy, social work, physical therapy, nutrition/dietetics, allopathic medicine, and other applicable disciplines.
For an application, please click Geriatrics in the 21st Century application and return to AGEC via fax at 501-257-4531.
Geriatrics in the 21st Century Program Goals
The goals are to expand the geriatrics knowledge of health professionals, to promote the concept of the interdisciplinary team and to improve the health care delivered to older Arkansans.
AR-GEMS Program Description
Participants in the Geriatrics in the 21st Century program will complete a minimum of 80 hours of didactic geriatric education and 80 hours of clinical experiences in geriatric settings.
The program requirements cover three distinct categories: event attendance, self study and clinical experiences.
1. Event attendance. Participants are required to attend a variety of live events. Fees for these events vary and will not be covered by the AGEC. Attendance to some of the events provides continuing education credits for multiple disciplines.
2. Self-study. This portion of the program is available entirely online. Topics addressed include but are not limited to Gerontology 101 (Normal Aging), Foundations of Aging, Health Promotion, Communication with Older Adults, and Health Literacy.
3. Clinical experiences. This program component requires that participants choose the geriatric clinical areas where they will spend 80 hours doing mentored shadowing activities. The clinical settings include but are not limited to Home Based Primary Care, House Calls, Geri-Pharmacy, Adult Protection Services, Fitness/Aquatics, Falls Prevention, Audiology, Palliative Care, Hospice, Cancer Clinic, and Nursing Home Dietetics. The AGEC staff will help in scheduling chosen clinical activities according to the needs of individual participants. As introduction and preparation for each clinical activity, participants will view an AGEC produced DVD pertinent to the topic of the clinical activity and complete a post-test designed to reinforce learning .
Clinical experiences may occur in any of the following settings: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ARCC), Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Arkansas State University (ASU), Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation (APCF), rural Centers on Aging, senior centers (AAA), nursing homes, the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and Arkansas State University (ASU), Jonesboro. In addition, other sites may be approved on an individual basis.
Geriatrics in the 21st Century Program Requirements
Faculty and practicing healthcare professionals will:
• View an introductory lecture (Gerontology 101) presented by a staff geriatrician via the web.
• Log on to three webinars sponsored by the AGEC on a variety of different geriatric topics.
• Attend any three scheduled geriatric grand rounds over the course of one year.
• Attend any one of the CE conferences jointly sponsored by the GRECC and the AGEC.
• Participate in mentored shadowing experiences. The clinical settings include but are not limited to Home Based Primary Care, House Calls, Geri-Pharmacy, Adult Protection Services, Fitness/Aquatics, Falls Prevention, Audiology, Palliative Care, Hospice, Cancer Clinic, and Nursing Home Dietetics.
• All of the program requirements must be completed no later than 12 months than the enrollment date.
Continuing Education
The following disciplines are invited to participate in this program: Nursing, social work, physical therapy and allopathic medicine, as well as nutrition/dietetics, speech language, pharmacy, occupational therapy and other applicable disciplines
Up to 40 hours of ARNA and long term care credits are available because some of the required activities currently carry CE Credit.
Upon completion of all requirements, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
To complete an application, please click on the following link:
Geriatrics in the 21st Century application
Program Director
Ronni Chernoff, PhD, RD, FADA
Director, AGEC
Program Staff
Kimberly H. Clement, BA
Educational Specialist, AGEC
Soledad H-D Jasin, PhD
Senior Education Specialist, AGEC
Robin McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE
Nurse Educator, AGEC
Susan M. Porbeck, BS, CHES
Program Project Specialist