ISU and older adult community work together to train health professions students

POCATELLO –Idaho State University health professions students will have an opportunity to hone their clinical and communication skills during an interprofessional training event Oct. 4, thanks to a little help from older and retired members of the Pocatello and Chubbuck community.

The session, part of the 12^th annual ISU Thomas Geriatric Symposium, will take place in the Pond Student Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. to noon. Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad will greet the students and join the older adult participants for lunch following the event in the Little Wood River Room.

Community members, faculty and students representing a variety of health professions will break into groups to study the hypothetical case of an elderly stroke patient who is about to be released from the hospital. The groups will focus on how best to care for the patient as a team and support the  patient’s caregivers. The older adults will share perspectives about their personal health care experiences.

“Interprofessional education is a major focus in all of our program curriculum” says Chris Owens, associate vice president for health sciences at ISU. “Students gain valuable experience by working with and learning from each other, which better prepares them to practice interprofessionally in their careers. This helps us positively shape the future of health care in Idaho.”

The ISU Kasiska Division of Health Sciences provides training in more than 30 programs in the high-demand health professions, including pharmacy, nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.  The KDHS includes the College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions and College of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences. More health-related programs are offered through the College of Technology, College of Business, College of Education and College of Arts and Letters. 

Interested older adults who wish to participate in the case study are invited. Pre-registration is required. For more information about the ISU Thomas Geriatric Interprofessional Education Event and to register, call (208) 282-3372 or visit isu.edu/healthconf.