Special journal section explores geriatric assessment

The latest issue of The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences (Vol. 63, No. 3) features a special section devoted to the phenomenon of multidimensional geriatric assessment - an interdisciplinary diagnostic process to determine the medical, psychological, and functional status of at-risk and frail elderly patients in order to develop a coordinated, integrated plan for treatment and long-term follow-up.

The publication was guest edited by Darryl Wieland, PhD, MPH, of Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, SC. Eight articles are presented in total under the banner of "Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment: Back to the Future."

This method of evaluation and care became the centerpiece of geriatric practice in academic and VA medical centers in the early 1980s, picking up from pioneers who had developed it in the British National Health Service. It emphasizes patient function, quality-of-life, and other treatment goals, entailing a workup of more depth and breadth than usually encountered.

The subtitle "Back to the Future" refers to the fact that this model has been difficult to maintain due to forces in modern healthcare. The articles examine new research on the subject and make recommendations for its future viability.

The eight articles are listed below:

Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment: Back to the Future (Editorial)

The Cost-Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Intervention Model for Community-Dwelling Frail Older People

A Randomized Study of a Multidisciplinary Program to Intervene on Geriatric Syndromes in Vulnerable Older People Who Live at Home (Dutch EASYcare Study)

The Early Effects of "Guided Care" on the Quality of Health Care for Multimorbid Older Persons: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects on Health Care Use and Associated Cost of a Home Visiting Program for Older People With a Poor Health Status: A Randomized Clinical Trial in the Netherlands

Preclinical Disability as a Risk Factor for Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Multidimensional Preventive Home Visit Programs for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Second and Third Generation Assessment Instruments: The Birth of Standardization in Geriatric Care