Idaho Conference on Health Care, Thomas Geriatric Health Symposium set Oct. 21 at Idaho State University

The 24th annual Idaho Conference on Health Care and fourth annual Thomas Geriatric Health Symposium will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Pond Student Union Ballroom and be available at ISU-Meridian via ISU's distance learning.

The conference's main sponsor is the Idaho State University Division of Health Sciences. Registration for the conference is required by Oct. 14. CEUs and continuing education credit are available and there will be sponsor booths.

The event features four presentations:

• "Leadership in a Shifting Health Care System – Career Transitions for Clinical Professionals," from 9 to 10:15 a.m., presented by Jeri Dunkin, Ph.D., of the Alabama State Nurses Association and Rural Nurse Association. She established the Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care to provide rural health professionals with an open access journal that focuses on rural health care issues.

• "From Hospital to Home – Best Practices from the Idaho Person-Centered Hospital Discharge Model Grant," from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., presented by Debra Aubrey, Ph.D., and Russell Spearman. Aubrey is a clinical psychologist and a research associate professor with the ISU Institute of Rural Health, and is president of the Idaho Psychological Association. Spearman is a senior research associate with the ISU Institute of Rural Health and is the former executive director for Idaho's Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.

• "The Right Person in the Right Place – Rehabilitation Criteria for Discharge Placement Recommendations," from 1 to 1:50 p.m., presented by Cindy Seiger, Ph.D., who is assistant clinical professor and clinic director in the ISU Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy. She coordinates the on-campus Physical and Occupational Therapy Clinics.

• "Falling through the Cracks – The Value of an Interdisciplinary Transition of Care Clinic after Hospitalization," from 2 to 2:50 p.m., by Eliza Borzadek, PharmD, and Diana Krawtz, nurse practitioner. Borzadek has been involved with the Transition of Care Clinic within the ISU Family Medicine Residency Program, caring for patients recently discharged from the hospital in the clinic, skilled nursing facilities, and patient homes. Krawtz is a clinical assistant professor at ISU Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Family Medicine, where she serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students on medicine clerkship. She also provides drug-specific recommendations during in-patient medicine rounds at Portneuf Medical Center.

"We are fortunate to have an anonymous donor who understands the importance of educating health professionals about aging issues.  Though his generosity, ISU can bring nationally recognized experts in geriatric issues to this annual conference," says Ann Swanson, one of the conference organizers.

Conference information, including registration forms and complete speaker/presentation information, can be found at http://www.isu.edu/healthsciences/hlthconf/ or by contacting Continuing Education at (208) 282-3155 or extendedlearning@isu.edu.

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