Online training in geriatric health care begins in January

A series of online geriatric health care trainings will be available via virtual classroom on the internet beginning in January. The series is sponsored by the Alaska Center for Rural Health & Health Workforce -- Alaska’s AHEC and The Alaska Training Cooperative. The series is a partnership with the Northwest Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Center and will offer 10 weeks of trainings from Jan. 8 through March 12, 2019. Only the Winter Series will be offered in Alaska for 2019.

The series is designed to give community-based providers working in the field of aging an opportunity to participate in the trainings without having to travel. Target audience includes physicians, physician assistants, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and other interested professionals. Classes feature a different speaker each week discussing their area of expertise.

A list of host sites, schedule of topics and registration is available at https://www.akcache.org/Training/Class/92251.

The trainings must be viewed at one of the Host Sites set up around the state and because anyone can apply to be a host site during the series, this list can change daily so it is important to check the website or contact Pat for an updated list. Trainings are every Tuesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Alaska time.

Registration cost is $10 per session or $60 for the entire series. Continuing Education Credit is available for an additional $45. Certificates recording hours only are free upon request at the end of the series. Anyone can register at any time for the classes. There is no deadline. Retirees, students and volunteers, that don’t need credits or certificates, do not need to register and can attend for free.

The January schedule is as follows:

Jan. 8 - Dementia

Jan. 15 – Differential Diagnosis of Dementia, Delirium and Depression

Jan. 22 – Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Jan. 29 – Pharmacotherapy and Deprescribing

Visit the web link for information on presenters at these sessions, as well as the topics and presenters for February and March classes.

For more information, contact Pat Sammartino at (907) 786-6589, or by e-mail at plsammartino@alaska.edu.