Geriatrics Term

I am at the 2^nd half of my A&E course – GERIATRICS. Used to think geriatrics is juz about old folk’s home….but now I know is so multidisciplinary….. it’s not easy to be a GERIATRICIANS. Our population is AGING too so I guess it will be a hot specialty if not now but soon. U muz know all systems as their all systems may be failing (CVS, REspi, Vision, Hearing, Bones.etc)…u muz know oncology…as u know they may have cancer..u muz deal with psycho problem as u know they may be demented or depressed…you have to know the management to the multi ailment and yet to avoid complications of polypharmacy. u muz know the community care as that is a great part of their life….you have to do community or home visit too.

Difference between hostel and nursing home

Hostel is for old folks who juz need supervision but can care for themselves basically. They have risk of fall and other illness but haven disturbed their ability to eat and pee.

Nursing Home is for those who need ur care to eat and pee.

This term we are supposed to hand in a nursing home/home visit report.

Of course we r req to visit the home or nursing which at this pt of time I have yet to arranged.

FALL RISK ASSESSMENT

They develop all sorts of funny yet practical tests to determine ur risk of fall (especially for elderly)… That’s what we learnt when we visited the POW medical research institute and gait lab. They even have cameras and force detection on the floor to determine ur direction of force when walking, stance phase and swing phase.etc. They have obstacles course to determine ur risk taking behaviours (eg. automated fake paper car) . It was an interesting day.

ROBOT PROSTECTOMY

Watched a radical prostectomy video during one of the tutorials…. They used ROBOT ARMS with caliper and “scissors” at one end to do it..or rather HE (dr. Phillip something) used robot arms to do it and he did 1500 of PROSTECTOMY using the robot arm d. Apparently he is very proud of his statistic I think. Haha…but he’s really good. The surgery that people usually finish in 4-5 hrs, he did it in JUST 1 HOUR. He can do up to 4-5 such surgeries each day. I guess in 20 yrs down ROBOT SURGERY will be the IN THING. It offers high precision, and hi visibility(magnified view), less bleeding and complications.etc

WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Just went to WMH in our tutor’s car….it’s such a peaceful place somewhere near bondi junction, . U don’t expect much pple there as it’s a rehab hospital …Juz “crash” our new tutor (dr nick brannen) clinic. He saw 2 demented pt that afternoon. It’s interesting and an eye opener…

FIRST CASE:

the lady was telling everything so convincingly…she so alert and healthy….yet she’s demented(Alzheimer). At the end of the day, the 2 sons came and burst all the bubbles that she had been telling us….

2^nd CASE

At ex doctor who has Lewy body Dementia….yet he’s fully aware of his illness (unlike the first case) it’s like parkinsonism but it has component of dementia in it….complicated.