A student-led Geriatric Assessment Clinic: Interprofessional education with an older adult population.

Healthcare students have expressed a need for more education on the aging adult population. Interprofessional education (IPE) is a well-known educational model intended to increase students' knowledge, skill, and abilities to use evidence-based practice for improved patient outcomes. At a Midwestern, urban-based university, we have implemented an interprofessional, student-led Geriatric Assessment Clinic in order to allow students in six health professions (including medicine, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and speech language pathology) to practically apply their skills in the aging adult population while learning to work with other healthcare professionals. This holistic clinic is free of cost to the aging adults who participate in it. The following article discusses the purpose, implementation, benefits, and limitations of such a clinic as it relates to both the patients who attend and the students who participate.

Nutrition Therapy in Non-intubated Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A challenging aspect of the care for patients with acute respiratory failure is their nutrition management. This manuscript consists of a literature review on nutrition therapy in non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure receiving high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies show that non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure either on non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula are largely underfed in the initial phase of their hospitalization. Although data is limited, the available evidence suggests the feasibility of initiating oral diet in the majority of these patients in the early phase. Initial evaluation includes mental status evaluation, the Yale swallowing screening protocol, and an assessment of severity of illness. The goal should be to initiate oral diet within 24 h. If patient cannot initiate oral diet, the reason for not initiating oral diet should dictate the next step. For instance, if the reason is failure of the swallow screening, further evaluation with fiberoptic endoscopy is warranted. The inability to provide oral diet for a patient in respiratory distress may a harbinger of failure of non-invasive oxygen therapy and should prompt consideration for endotracheal intubation. We suggest placement of a small-bore feeding tube for enteral nutrition if patient is unable receive oral diet after 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition management of these patients is better provided by a multidisciplinary team in a protocolized manner.