1. Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team Program (GAIT)
An Interprofessional Training Opportunity in Geriatric Care
Reba Cornman, MSW, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Terri Socha, Western Maryland Area Health Education Center
Lisa Widmaier, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center
PROGRAM MISSION AND PROGRAMS SERVED
GAIT PROGRAM AGENDA
STUDENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO FACILITIES
Students are given pre-test on their self evaluation of their interdisciplinary skills
Introduction of GAIT –history and objectives
Student Introductions – Break into Interdisciplinary Teams
Introduction of the Facility
Lecture on the Theme of the GAIT
Aging Simulation
Team Building Exercise
Observation of Facility Team Meeting
Walking tour of the Facility
Matching students to preselected residents/clients of the facility
Student Team reviews the resident or client chart; talks with resident/client to perform team assessment; speak with staff; team discussion to formulate assessment and recommendations to facility staff.
Team Presentations with Facility Staff Present
Debriefing; Post Test on Interdisciplinary Skills and Program Evaluations
Student Intervention Recommendation to the Facilities
*GAIT has provided geriatric/interprofessional team training programs for health professional programs in the University System of Maryland for the past 19 years.
*Each GAIT offers both didactic and clinical experiences for at least three disciplines. GAIT rotations may be either one day or two days long.
*The ten GAIT’s per academic year are coordinated by Area Health Education Centers on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland Maryland .
DEGREE PROGRAMS SERVED FROM 5
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND CAMPUSES
MINIMUM OF THREE DISCIPLINES/GAIT
10-20 STUDENTS PER GAIT
Allied Health Management
Dental and Dental Hygiene
Gerontology
Law
Medicine
Nursing (Undergraduate and Nurse Practitioner)
Nutrition
Occupational Therapy
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Social Work (BSW and MSW)
Speech and Language Therapy
Therapeutic Recreation
Medications
An older adult in an independent living setting was taking medications, including a diuretic, at bedtime.  Potential for a fall risk getting up at night to go to the bathroom, suggestion to take the diuretics in the morning.
Oral Health
Dental student examined the mouth of a adult day care
center participant with many medical problems. Student
suggested that it would be very important for the family to
address his oral health since there was a strong possibility that a dental infection could further jeopardize his health.
Resident Safety
An independent resident revealed to the team that the family
had taken his car away, but that he was borrowing the car of a neighbor.  Staff (and the family) at the facility was not
aware of this situation.
A Second Set of Eyes
Patient at Adult Day Services was very proud of losing
weight recently.
Student team could not establish dietary or exercise
changes that would account for the weight loss, which was significant. 
The student presented a graph of the weight loss over time with a suggestion that there be some medical follow-up
about some treatable health related issues that could be causing the weight loss.
Caregiver Services
Dementia Care
End of Life Care
Falls Prevention
Geriatric Rehabilitation
Health and Wellness in Independent Living
Home Care
Oral Health Care/Periodontal Disease
Palliative Care
Pain Management
Stroke – Prevention, Signs and Symptoms
Wound Care
THE GAIT LEGACY .
GAIT TOPICS (sample)
Students gain an important experience in interprofessional
practice in a geriatric setting located in a rural community.
Faculty are able to provide needed geriatric and
interprofessional experiences for their students.
Host sites share best practices and gain
insight into care provided by students.
The rural communities of Maryland
host trainees in hope of attracting them to underserved
communities following graduation and licensure.
Acute Hospitals
Adult Day Care Centers
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Dementia Care Facilities
Home Care
Hospice
Long Term Care Facilities
Rehabilitation Units
Senior Centers
HOST FACILITY CATEGORIES
SAMPLE OF STUDENT EVALUATION STATEMENTS
It was valuable working with other disciplines. I recognized the value of and interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. (February 2014)
I learned so much about geriatrics and had a great experience working in an interdisciplinary group. (December 2013)
I think every student interested in healthcare should have this team training. (November 2013)
Contacts for GAIT and Acknowledgements
Reba Cornman, MSW, Director GGEAR Program,
University of Maryland Baltimore
Terri Socha, GAIT Coordinator, Western Maryland Area Health Education Center
Lisa Widmaier, GAIT Coordinator, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center
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Figure 3 B A