UIC has unique tools and stature to achieve the project’s objectives. The goal of educational training is for participants to acquire and retain knowledge that will affect clinical practices and patient health outcomes. Learners will have the opportunity to engage in real practice settings across a spectrum of settings, including primary care clinics, home care, hospice, palliative care, etc. We will increase availability of exemplary geriatric care among our community partners. There are three main objectives for ENGAGE-IL.
Objective 1: Develop and implement an IP Geriatrics Certificate Training Program for primary care professionals, preparing clinicians to work in IP teams and provide high-quality, patient-centered care to older adults. This training program will address the needs of our community partners: patient/family engagement, meeting psychosocial needs of the older adult, disease self-management, and older adult population health.
Objective 2: Develop and implement a House Calls program serving the UIC health system and other patients in our catchment areas and at UIC clinical practice sites that will participate in the Interprofessional Geriatric Certificate Program.
Objective 3: Strengthen links with community-based partners, including primary care provider organizations (ACCESS, Thresholds, Rainbow) and community groups (H.O.M.E.) to foster campus-community relationships and meet the needs of the older adults.