Interdisciplinary Insights: Building Age-Friendly Health Care at ISU

At the intersection of education, health care and community, Idaho State University’s 14th Annual Ginny Thomas Geriatric Symposium brought together students, professionals and older adults to explore innovative ways of improving health care for the aging population. Students from the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences and the College of Technology’s Health Occupation Department learned about advancing a healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of older adults. The two-part event, hosted by the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, was held October 9 on the Pocatello campus, and on October 16 on the Meridian campus. Both events attracted a total of nearly 400 attendees and featured a keynote speaker address, a panel discussion and an interactive case study.

“Thanks to generous support from our long-time anonymous donor, as well Bingham Healthcare and the Idaho Rural Health Association, along with our partnership with Health Occupations programs, this event again demonstrated our commitment to developing age-friendly communities while preparing future healthcare providers for comprehensive, person-centered care,” said Chris Owens, the associate vice president of the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. 

Joanne Trammel, program coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program in the College of Technology, delivered the keynote address in both Pocatello and Meridian. In this, she shared her expertise in providing comprehensive meaningful care to older adults and introduced a new framework for optimal geriatric care built around the “Four M’s”:

• What Matters: Aligning care with each client’s goals.
• Medication: Safe dosing and age-friendly medications.
• Mentation: Addressing issues like delirium and dementia.
• Mobility: Promoting safe daily movement to maintain independence.

Trammel emphasized a holistic approach to healthcare, advocating for a paradigm shift that prioritizes truly listening to clients in order to understand their unique needs. She also stressed the need for a culture of interprofessional collaboration, respect and teamwork. In closing, Trammel highlighted the value of input from all team members, emphasizing the need to honor the autonomy of older adults and leverage the diverse strengths and expertise of the entire care team.

"This event is truly exciting as it unites students from the College of Technology's Health Occupation programs with those from the College of Health's Health Science programs,” said Trammel. “Together, they will collaborate and learn from one another, reflecting the teamwork they will embody in the community. Regardless of their specific programs, they are all colleagues working towards a shared goal: delivering age-friendly care. This gathering is an invaluable opportunity for everyone to exchange knowledge and insights, ultimately enhancing the quality of care we provide to our older adults."

Following Trammel’s insightful address in Pocatello, a panel of esteemed professionals — including Melody Weaver (PhD, APRN, FNP-BC), Michael Foley (PT, PhD), John Holmes (PharmD, MPH, BCPS), and Leah Fortson (MD, psychiatrist) — discussed the complexities of geriatric care from their respective disciplines by sharing insights and strategies for improving care outcomes across the aging population.

“The Symposium was super! As an older adult, I have never heard of the 4 M’s before, but the panelists did a good job explaining what makes up an age-friendly community”, said Sharon Sturm, a community member from Blackfoot, ID. “I look forward to next year’s symposium and I hope more older adults can come as well.”

The afternoon concluded with an interactive case study discussion, where attendees were seated in cross-disciplinary groups to promote the exchange of ideas. This setup allowed students and professionals to gain a deeper understanding of how their specialties intersect and contribute to comprehensive care. Older adults also played a crucial role as educators, sharing their personal experiences to help guide the discussions.

“The 14th Annual Geriatric Symposium was very successful in both Pocatello and Meridian,” said Sister Anthony Marie Greving, the ISU Geriatric Certificate coordinator. “The events provided a unique opportunity for interprofessional learning, community engagement and the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Older adults shared their experiences with students of various disciplines. The future health professional students in turn, heard first hand from older adults how they wanted to be listened to and understood as to their needs. The round table discussions were exceptional” 

The interdisciplinary aspect of the events was also a highlight for students in attendance.

“Exploring a case study through the diverse perspectives of various healthcare professionals, as well as community members, opened my eyes to insights I hadn’t considered before,” said Halle Thomson-Kidwell, an Occupational Therapy student from the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. “This experience allowed me to apply my academic knowledge while witnessing how our profession interconnects with others. Occupational therapy is rooted in helping people engage in what they value most in their daily lives by providing client centered holistic care so it was incredibly rewarding to see other healthcare professionals embrace the concept of ‘what matters’ to the people we serve.”

The symposium exemplified ISU’s commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, respect and comprehensive care for older adults. Events like this are key in preparing future healthcare professionals to meet the unique needs of an aging population. 

To learn more about health care programs offered at ISU visit the College of Technology and the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences websites.