PSYCHOLOGISTS IN GERIATRIC-MEDICINE - RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY

Physician directors of geriatric medicine fellowship programs (N = 5 1 ) were surveyed on their current and desired involvement with psycholo gists, perceived areas of expertise of psychologists, comparisons of p sychologists with overlapping health care professions, and factors lim iting involvement of psychologists in geriatric medicine. Results indi cate that psychologists are quite involved in most geriatric medicine training programs and that directors of these programs welcome their g reater involvement. Significantly, psychologists and psychiatrists are rated as similar in expertise in most areas of clinical practice- Neu ropsychological assessment and family therapy are areas of psychologis t expertise that are seen as especially valuable. Factors that may inc rease psychologist involvement in geriatric medical settings and the s pecial importance of medical settings for the care of older patients a re discussed.