For Medicine Residents

PATCH provides a unique learning opportunity which impacts trainees' attitudes, expands their knowledge base, and enhances clinical skills in areas related to palliative home care for elderly with multiple and life-limiting medical conditions.

--Impacting interns' attitudes and awareness of:  patients' needs in the home; the role of caregivers as patient care managers; the environment's effect on patient health; the heterogeneity of older persons and their homes; cultural differences in patient decision making; and the role of interdisciplinary team members in the home.

--Expanding interns' knowledge on issues such as: determining appropriateness for physician home visits, hospitalization and institutionalization; assessing safety and functionality in the home; treating immobility, ulcers and skin breakdowns, enteral feedings and chronic urinary catheters.  Interns will understand the physician's role in terminal care and responsibilities and approach to elder abuse and neglect; caregiver stress; and reimbursement mechanisms.

--Enhancing interns' clinical skills in areas such as: communication and collaboration with hospital discharges, family and other caregivers and health care providers; identification of elder abuse or neglect, caregiver stress and referrals; assessment of medication use, function and fall risk,  and treatment adherance; prognostication and development of advance directives