Several characteristics of the nursing home justify its new found stat
us as an academic site, including a heterogenous patient population, a
rich and varied milieu for teaching, opportunities for faculty develo
pment, and more importantly, the nursing home's new found position in
the health care continuum. Mandates from a number of professional and
accrediting bodies pertaining to primary care training experiences fur
ther highlight the nursing home's role in medical education. In additi
on to education, research in the nursing home has become increasingly
recognized and valued. The incorporation of nursing facilities into th
e academic mainstream will impact positively not only on patient care
and age-related clinical investigation but also on the breadth and qua
lity of training for the primary care physician of the future.