Integrating Housestaff into a Geriatric Inpatient Interdisciplinary Team

Medical housestaff are rarely members of interdisciplinary teams. In this study, housestaff participated in interdisciplinary team rounds during a month-long rotation on an Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit and were then surveyed to determine their attitudes about the team and the unit. Twenty-nine residents responded, for a response rate of 85.3%. Over 90% found interdisciplinary rounds helpful for improving efficiency of patient management, the understanding of the patient's hospital course, the roles of other health professionals, and the sensitivity to the needs of geriatric patients. Very few found rounds to be burdensome or a waste of time. ACE units may serve as viable experiential models for training in interdisciplinary teamwork as well as geriatric medicine.