The Importance of the Interdisciplinary Care Team in Geriatrics

Why is interdisciplinary care important?

Geriatric medicine can be very complex.  Older patients may require a great deal of care from many different healthcare professionals.  In order to be sure that the best quality care is given to the patient, geriatric professionals often work together as a team to address the needs of their patients.

Who are the members of the interdisciplinary care team?

The members of interdisciplinary care team vary depending on the needs of the patient and the resources of the healthcare institution.  Geriatric interdisciplinary care teams may include: physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, and nurses.

Why is this important to students?

Students who are interested in geriatrics can begin to learn about working with other healthcare professionals.  Some suggestions about how to do this:

1. If you do not have a geriatrics student group at your school, start one.  See the beginning of the student website for “How to start a student chapter.”  Encourage students from all disciplines to join your group.

2. If you already have a geriatrics student group at your school, invite students from all healthcare disciplines to attend your meetings.  Or, host a geriatric interdisciplinary care team at one of your meetings to describe how they function. 

Meet the Members of the Interdisciplinary Team

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