Medical School Get $3.7M to Address Geriatric Care Shortage

The Associated Press confirms that the University of Nebraska Medical Center has received a five-year, $3.7 million grant to address the looming shortage of physicians who specialize in the care of older adults. The U.S. Health Resources Services Administration estimates a need for 33,200 geriatricians in the United States by 2025, which is nearly 27,000 more than the current projected supply of around 6,200. According to the medical school, a way to solve the problem is to expand the access of primary care professionals to resources that aid them in treating seniors' complex health issues. The grant will provide education to teams including doctors, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, and mental health professionals. The central idea is to care for patients as a team when they are ill, but also keep them well.