Enacts provisions relating to the practice of geriatric medicine and related training in such field of medicine; requires physicians, physician assistants and specialist assistants to receive training in geriatric medicine pursuant to a curriculum developed by the commissioner of health in consultation with the commissioner of education and the director of the office for the aging.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5605
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to training in geriatric
medicine
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 224. Geriatric medicine; training. 1. For purposes of this section,
4 "geriatric medicine" shall mean the medical care and social, preventa-
5 tive and rehabilitative aspects of health and illness in older people.
6 2. All students who are enrolled in a course of study approved by the
7 education department to receive training as a physician, physician
8 assistant as defined in section sixty-five hundred forty of the educa-
9 tion law or specialist assistant as defined in section sixty-five
10 hundred forty-seven of the education law shall receive training in
11 geriatric medicine pursuant to a curriculum developed by the commission-
12 er of health in consultation with the commissioner of education and the
13 director.
14 3. Any existing curricula, including curricula developed by nationally
15 recognized health care professional, specialty or provider associations,
16 may be considered in implementing this section. Curricula developed
17 under this section shall consist of providing students with core princi-
18 ples related to the practice of geriatric medicine which shall include
19 but shall not be limited to:
20 (a) a knowledge of the normal aging processes, the sociological and
21 demographic aspects of aging in our society, and the psychological and
22 physical aspects of human aging;
23 (b) administration and management relevant to delivering medical
24 services to older people, an ability to assess chronic and acute disease
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09208-01-3
A. 5605 2
1 associated with aging and impairment, disability and handicap, and the
2 development of appropriate management strategies;
3 (c) an understanding of the management of complex, often multiple,
4 medical problems which often require a coordinated interdisciplinary
5 approach; and the function and organizational aspects of the range of
6 extended care services available for the care of dependent older people;
7 (d) an ability to use appropriate resources for rehabilitation;
8 (e) an understanding of the effect of physical illness, psychological
9 illness, social and environmental factors on the health of an older
10 person; including the special features of illness presentation in older
11 people with regard to common clinical syndromes such as Alzheimer's
12 disease and dementia, confusion, falls, incontinence, impaired mobility
13 and iatrogenic disorders;
14 (f) an understanding of the role of preventative approaches for older
15 people, including health promotion; judgment in the application of
16 investigations and therapeutic procedures in the care of older patients;
17 and an understanding of the principles of palliative care and techniques
18 for pain management;
19 (g) educational methodology, research and statistical skills, and
20 patient consultation skills;
21 (h) medical ethics pertaining to older patients; and
22 (i) completion of a rotation in a geriatric setting such as home care,
23 skilled nursing care, hospice care or adult day health care.
24 4. Every physician, physician assistant and specialist assistant prac-
25 ticing in the state shall, every three years, complete course work or
26 training regarding geriatric medicine, approved by the department of
27 health and in accordance with standards promulgated by the commissioner
28 of health in consultation with the commissioner of education and the
29 director. The department of health shall provide an exemption from the
30 requirements of this subdivision to anyone who requests such an
31 exemption and who demonstrates to such department's satisfaction that:
32 (a) there would be no need for him or her to complete such course work
33 or training because of the nature of his or her practice; or
34 (b) that he or she has completed course work or training deemed by the
35 department of health to be equivalent to the standards for course work
36 or training approved by such department under this section.
37 5. The director, in consultation with the commissioner of health and
38 the department of education shall promulgate rules and regulations
39 necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
40 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
41 it shall have become a law. Provided, however, that effective immediate-
42 ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
43 necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective
44 date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before
45 such date.
