Geriatric Provider Education Needs Assessment & Recommendations

Executive Summary
The Geriatric Provider Education Needs Assessment was conducted to provide the Maine Geriatric
Education Center (Maine GEC) information necessary for designing and improving training opportunities
and continuing education offerings in geriatrics and gerontology for Maine’s healthcare providers.
Specifically, a survey and analysis of current educational requirements and future educational needs of
the full spectrum of geriatric care providers in Maine was conducted. Activities included a review of the
literature, population and sample identification, design and pilot test of the survey, implementation, and
analysis. The timeline for this needs assessment was January to September 2004.
Using an online survey, 286 respondents indicated their preferences in education, course type, and
delivery method. While many still prefer to attend a workshop and get away from the workplace, and
equally large number indicated their willingness to take an on-line course. Learning needs were identified
as knowledge about community resources, geriatric assessment, depression, and end-of-life issues. The
online survey methodology was a success and should be used in future data collection efforts.
Recommendations based on the results of the assessment are:
1) Identify and/or develop geriatrics training opportunities that meet the identified needs of healthcare
providers, and deliver these opportunities in both preferred and new ways;
2) Encourage educational content that leads to a better understanding of the elderly;
3) Provide a central source of continuous information around changes in geriatrics policy, workforce,
standards and care and new practice models;
4) Support geriatric training programs for informal caregivers.
i.