Approach to Geriatric Emergency Medicine: A Flipped Classroom Group Learning Exercise for Undergraduate Medical Trainees

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Audience: This module is designed for undergraduate medical students during the clinical stage of their emergency medicine training (eg, clerkship).With some modifications to make the objectives and content level appropriate, it may also be shared with postgraduate learners (eg, interns and residents).Introduction: Adults aged 65 and older account for 25% of visits to emergency departments (EDs) in the United States (US), and 22% of ED visits in Ontario, Canada.1,2 This share will undoubtedly increase in proportion to the growing number of seniors, who are expected to make up over 20% of the Canadian population by 2023, and 25% by 2047. 3 As compared with younger ED patients, older adults are more vulnerable in that they: 4,5,6 • Experience high rates of post-visit morbidity, mortality, and functional decline.• Are more likely to be admitted to hospital.• Are prone to health care-related harm in the ED.• Are predisposed to conditions such as delirium and dementia, which can complicate their clinical course and discharge planning.Factors that account for these differences include:• Normal age-related decrements in homeostatic response to physiologic stressors like infection and hypovolemia.7