

Aging Q3 Curriculum on Falls and Mobility of Older Adult Patients
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Using the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (or ACOVE) paradigm and the principles of Academic Detailing, Aging Q3 is developing curricula on 16 different topics for teaching residents about providing quality care to elderly patients. Aging Q3 uses a sequence of multiple interventions where residents learn and experience the practice of Geriatrics in the clinical setting with limited interruption to the process of patient care. Each ACOVE is featured for 3 months. The curriculum includes a resident lecture during one of the residents' scheduled noon conferences, a handout used by the faculty to detail the resident on the issue during precepting or rounds, a poster which is displayed strategically in resident areas of the hospital and clinic, and observed demonstration and assessment of a defined skill. Residents are "cued" to address the featured issue with their elder patients by a "Blue Sheet" which contains a few brief questions on the ACOVE topic that the Patient Care Technician or Nurse have discussed with the patient during intake. Residents are assessed pre and post on knowledge, skill, and attitude by a Survey Monkey questionnaire.
The Falls and Mobility "ACOVE" is number 2 of 16 different curricula being developed in Aging Q3.
- Recognize the risk factors, consequences, and interventions associated with falls in the older adult patient.
- Demonstrate a "Timed Up and Go" test on an older adult patient.