Training
for Physicians
on Elder
Abuse
The
mortality
rate
for
elderly
victims
of
crime
is
triple
that
of
other
older
people—and
because
the
elderly
visit
their
doctors
more
frequently
than
the
general
population,
physicians
are
well
positioned
to
intervene
on
behalf
of
elderly
victims.
However,
little
is
taught
about
elder
abuse
in
medical
schools,
in
spite
of
there
being
a
number
of
well-recognized
risk
factors.
To
address
this
inequity,
OVC
funded
the
Baylor
College
of
Medicine
to
develop
a
curriculum
for
academic
physicians
and
other
health
professionals
that
focuses
on
the
risk
factors
and
indicators
of
elder
abuse,
appropriate
intervention
strategies,
reporting
and
documenting
requirements,
and
cooperation
with
law
enforcement.
The
grantee
pilot
tested
the
training
at
medical
schools
in
Houston,
Texas,
during
the
first
year,
targeting
faculty
in
geriatrics,
family
practice,
emergency
medicine,
surgery,
and
general
internal
medicine.
The
curriculum
was
revised
based
on
the
results
of
the
pilot
test
and
has
been
further
tested
elsewhere
in
the
state.
The
curriculum
is
currently
being
finalized.
With
funding
in
its
third
year,
the
grantee
will
develop
an
interactive
Web
site
for
ongoing
education,
technical
assistance,
and
interdisciplinary
case
consultations
with
participating
medical
school
sites.
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