What Social Work Brings to the Inter-professional Team Kristina Hash—West Virginia University Friday October 28, 2011

Inter-Professional Team One School’s “How-to” of Interdisciplinary Training 1.Interdisciplinary Coursework 2.Partnering with other Academic Disciplines 3.Utilizing Interdisciplinary Competencies

Inter-Professional Team 1. Interdisciplinary Coursework Gerontology Certificate

Inter-Professional Team Gerontology Certificate Interdisciplinary, university-wide, state-wide program Majority of courses online + approved electives offered in other departments Incorporates many of the SWLI competencies as course objectives Interdisciplinary discussion groups

Inter-Professional Team Example Discussion (Rural Gero Course) This unit focused on health and nutrition issues of rural elders. Please answer and discuss the following questions: What health disparities exist between older adults in rural v. urban areas? Given what you have learned in this and previous course units, what is your reaction to the priorities set forth by Rural Healthy People 2010? Huntington, WV was named the most obese/most unhealthy city in the U.S. recently. Given this story and the readings for this week, why do you think we have such a problem with obesity in WV? What can be done about it?

Inter-Professional Team Example Discussion (Fundamentals of Gero Course) For this discussion, read the following case and answer and discuss questions related to the case: Frank and Helen have been married for 55 years. Frank is on oxygen and has a feeding tube and early stage dementia. Helen is very healthy and works part-time in a retail store. Helen has been trained to manage his cares because Frank wants to remain at home. Helen has reluctantly agreed to continue as his primary caregiver since she does not like to accept help from anyone else and has refused to pay for any in-home assistance. They have long-term care insurance but it will only pay for nursing home care. Frank forgets that he cannot eat regular food and has severe bouts of coughing when trying to swallow. Helen says that Frank should know better and that he is being spiteful. Frank was recently hospitalized with pneumonia and the hospital staff discovered that his medications had not been given to him for several days before his admission. Is this a case of elder mistreatment? As a professional, what would you do in this case? *Case adapted from the national Gero-Ed Center

Inter-Professional Team Certificate Courses Offered by Division of Social Work Fundamentals of Gerontology Rural Gerontology Public Policy and Aging Contemporary Issues in Aging/Summer on Aging

Inter-Professional Team Gerontology Practitioner’s Certificate Interdisciplinary CE-based (Currently under development)

Inter-Professional Team 2. Partnering with other Academic Disciplines Gerontology Certificate- for student recruitment to the program and approval of outside electives Pharmacy, Speech Pathology/Audiology, Public Health, Exercise Physiology, Nursing, etc.

Inter-Professional Team WV Geriatric Education Center (WVGEC) Interdisciplinary Faculty Team: Medicine (MD and DO), Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Social Work

Inter-Professional Team Interdisciplinary Trainings and Activities: Health Literacy Training Advanced Geriatric Educator Skills (AGES) Training WV Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting Lunch and Learns Journal Club

Inter-Professional Team 3. Utilizing Interdisciplinary Competencies Inter-Professional Competencies (handouts) WVGEC Partnership for Health in Aging (PHA)

Inter-Professional Team Interdisciplinary Competency Guide for Geriatrics (WVGEC) Defines cross-cutting competencies in medicine, nursing, social work, pharmacy and dentistry that represent quality geriatrics practice for older adults and their families and/or caregivers. Contact: Mark Newbrough, MD,

Inter-Professional Team Partnership for Health in Aging (PHA) Multidisciplinary Competencies in the Care of Older Adults at the Completion of the Entry-level Health Professional Degree Universal geriatric competencies relevant to all healthcare disciplines.

Inter-Professional Team Putting Competencies into Play We provide a guide to completing the HPPAE learning contract that includes the SWLI and GEC competencies (can now include PHA as well). Students choose competencies based upon their educational needs and goals and the opportunities available in the rotational settings

Inter-Professional Team Final Question for Thought: What Doesn’t Social Work Bring to the Interdisciplinary Team?