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URMC / Medicine / Geriatrics & Aging / Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center
 

Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center

About Us

The University of Rochester Division of Geriatrics & Aging was awarded the highly competitive HRSA-funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant.  This 5-year, $3.75 million award establishes and operates a geriatric education center for health care workforce development that maximizes patient and family engagement and improves health outcomes for older adults. This grant funds the continuation of one of the largest geriatric educational initiatives to date for our region, serving a 25-county area of the Finger Lakes and meeting the needs of both rural communities and the greater metropolitan region of Rochester.

This funding recognizes the prior work in geriatrics education and the building of community partnerships by the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) over the last 25 years and positions the medical center to continue to meet the educational needs throughout the region with a growing aging population. The URMC will disseminate trainings statewide, develop online learning opportunities, and reach rural areas through use of telehealth technologies and telementoring via live videoconferencing.  Project curricula will have a common focus on cultural and linguistic competency, health disparities, and health literacy. In addition, specific education and training for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias will be targeted for patients, families, and caregivers under this funding.

The work of URMC is accomplished through collaborating partnerships between academic training programs, community-based primary care sites, and community-based organizations. This funding supports collaborations with Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, Lifespan of Rochester, and the Rochester-Finger Lakes Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association which will expand outreach efforts; along with clinical partnerships including Accountable Health Partners (AHP) and the Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease. The goal is to transform clinical training environments to integrate geriatrics and primary care delivery systems through outreach to community primary care practices (including patient-centered medical homes and nursing homes) with target learners including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, social workers, care coordinators, direct care workers, rehabilitation professionals, other allied health, and behavioral/mental health professionals. The URMC intends to lead a transformation toward an Age-Friendly Health System and work towards making the Rochester and the Finger Lakes region a dementia-friendly community.

Contact Us

Thomas V. Caprio, MD, MPH, MS
FLGEC, Director
University of Rochester
435 East Henrietta Rd.
Rochester, NY 14620
P (585) 760-6364
F (585) 760-6376
Thomas_Caprio@urmc.rochester.edu