Interprofessional Education and Older Adults in the Shared Virtual Classroom: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The current article provides an overview of an interprofessional service-learning course that became virtual in the setting of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Telehealth video technologies were used to build an intergenerational, virtual classroom and increase engagement of older adults with interdisciplinary health professional students. The virtual classroom involved group health education sessions, individualized Medicare wellness visits, and a clinical huddle. The course addressed the public health need for reliable health information during the early days of the pandemic, social connection, and meeting the educational goals for health care students and older adults in a novel virtual setting. Lessons learned for the interdisciplinary team and for engaging older adults included the need for preparation reading, team building exercises, training videos, and telehealth competency checklists. Beyond the pandemic, adoption of virtual methods enables hybrid approaches to interprofessional education and builds competencies for delivery of telehealth and computer-based visits in professional practice settings. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(8), 52-56.].

Students' perceptions of interprofessional education in geriatrics: A qualitative analysis.

Interprofessional education (IPE) is critical for ensuring that students are prepared to collaborate with team members across disciplines once they enter clinical practice; particularly, in the complex care of the geriatric population. This qualitative study explored the experiences of interdisciplinary students in a clinical based IPE experience at a senior housing residence. Reflective journals were examined from students (n = 23) in nursing, social work, pharmacy, and medicine participating in an IPE program. Four core themes emerged in the analysis: exposure to geriatrics, IPE advantages for students, IPE advantages for older adults, and IPE challenges. Findings from this study confirmed advantages of IPE in a real-world clinical setting in terms of students learning the value and scope of practice of interdisciplinary team members. The exposure to geriatrics helped students to gain an in-depth understanding of issues affecting older adults in the community and increase professional confidence in their future clinical practice.

How Consultant Pharmacists Gained Access to Maryland's Health Information Exchange.

The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) is a health information exchange in Maryland that is designed to improve communication among members of the health care team including physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Senior care pharmacists gained access to CRISP through successful collaborative efforts at both the state and national levels. This involved efforts to address medication-related problems that continue to be a concern during transitions of care, especially for older, vulnerable adults. Having access to recent clinical data assists the senior care pharmacist in providing medication therapy management services during transitions of care-the movement of a patient from one setting of care to another.This article highlights the importance of collaboration and advocacy between state and national leadership of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) with key stakeholders to negotiate and gain access to such information for senior care pharmacists working in the post-acute and long-term care settings in Maryland.

Senior Care Pharmacists, Audiologists, and Otologists: Improving Hearing Health for Older Patients Through Interprofessional Collaboration.

The purpose of this manuscript is to provide pharmacists with education on hearing loss that colleagues in audiology believe is most critical for pharmacists. As well as highlighting insightful interventions pharmacists can make in collaboration with hearing professionals, such as audiologists, otolaryngologists, and otologists, to improve patient care. This project was initiated by professional students at the University of Maryland in both Baltimore and College Park campuses, after completing the interprofessional elective course IPE Care in Geriatrics. Upon completion of the course, the authors performed an extensive literature search and reviewed publications pertaining to pharmacy, audiology, and their integration.Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. Older people are at an increased risk for experiencing hearing impairment, but often do not seek help from health care providers. Collaboration between audiologists, otolaryngologists, and pharmacists has the potential to improve patients' access to hearing health and break barriers for patients. Important interventions that pharmacists can make to better serve their patients with hearing loss include screening, enhancing communication, and hearing aid assistance. This article also provides guidance on identifying patients who would be candidates for over-the-counter hearing aids and patients who should be referred to a hearing professional. This skill will become increasingly relevant with the emergence of over-the-counter hearing aids.