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Gearing up for a graying America (AGS annual scientific meeting)

Release of a sentinel report on the future of geriatric medicine offers steps to take now to make a difference in the long run.

By Peggy Peck, amednews correspondent. July 4, 2005.

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Reports from conferences important to physicians

As a specialty, geriatrics is in critical -- but not terminal -- condition, according to "Caring for Older Americans: The Future of Geriatric Medicine," a long-anticipated report from the American Geriatrics Society.

Release of the report, which lays out the current work-force situation and puts forth a plan for future action, was the pivotal event at the AGS scientific meeting, held in Orlando, Fla., May 11-15.

Though there has been significant progress in the evolution of geriatric medicine, health care for older people is now at a crossroads, notes the report, which was published as a separate supplement to the June Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. "The clinical, educational and research approaches of the 20th century are unable to keep pace and require major revision," it states. The document also warns that maintaining the status quo will translate into falling further behind.

There was an initial burst of enthusiasm when geriatric training programs were established in the 1970s and the first examination in geriatric medicine was jointly administered in 1988 by the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Internal Medicine. But since then, geriatrics has run into a recruiting wall. According to a study accompanying the report, "fewer than 300 physicians entered geriatric medicine fellowships in 2003."

Thus, just as America is graying and baby boomers are turning into golden oldies, geriatrics has a shortfall of more than 7,000 geriatricians. There is only one trained geriatrician for every 5,000 Americans 65 and older. The AGS projects this number to reach a shortfall of 36,000 geriatricians by 2030.