An older man carefully walks a straight line marked on the carpet while students assess his gait. In a room nearby, students review a woman鈥檚 medication use.
These adults are among 18 volunteers from surrounding communities attending 911爆料鈥檚 annual Senior Health and Wellness Program, organized by the Colleges of , and 鈥� which form 911爆料鈥檚 鈥� in partnership with the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center and Johnson & Wales University鈥檚 physician assistant studies program.
Each volunteer participant receives free screenings and health assessments from an interdisciplinary team of students. The teams assess each person鈥檚 health 鈥� diet and nutrition, vital signs, sleep habits, medication use, mobility, strength, balance. The students then gather to analyze their findings and, with faculty guidance, develop recommendations for each person. Participants return about a month later, and their team provides suggestions and recommendations.
鈥淪tudents in these health-related disciplines learn about interprofessional teamwork and work together to screen older adult volunteers, under faculty supervision, for health, wellness and falls risk,鈥� said Janice Hulme, associate clinical professor of physical therapy and an event organizer. 鈥淚nitially, the students are very nervous. Afterward, they tell us it is one of the greatest experiences they have.鈥�
鈥淭his is an excellent example of experiential interprofessional education as well as a service to the 911爆料,鈥� said Geoffrey Greene, professor of nutrition. The program, which began in 2010, allows students to experience a multi-disciplinary approach to health care, which is becoming the norm, he noted.
鈥淚 love how it brings different disciplines together and how we can focus on communication and teamwork,鈥� said Alex Dien of Los Angeles, a third-year doctor of physical therapy student who participated last year. 鈥淚 was really glad we were not working in our own individual silos, but working with each other and looking out for our patients鈥� best interests.鈥�
This year, Dien is applying what he learned to help real people with real challenges in his clinical experiences. 鈥淲e want to help people be able to manage their life on their own terms,鈥� he said.
This year鈥檚 program takes place at Independence Square on the Kingston Campus on Sept. 26 and Oct. 24 from 7:45-9 a.m.