BUMC's CRIT Program is entering its 4th consecutive year.  Over the past three years, 47 trainees and 18 faculty mentors have participated, representing 13 medical and surgical disciplines.  Participating specialties have included Internal Medicine, Otolaryngology, Anesthesiology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Family Medicine, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Urology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. 

This year's retreat will be held at the Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine from May 9th to May 11th, 2008. We invite Chief Residents and their Program Directors from all departments to attend this unique training program.  PDs & CRs click here to register.

The overall goal of the program is to foster collaboration among disciplines in the management of complex older patients.

The secondary goals are:

• To incorporate geriatric principles into teaching and administrative roles as Chief Residents
• To develop leadership/teaching skills around the care of complex older patients
• To enhance leadership/teaching skills required in the Chief Resident role
• To be able to collaborate with other disciplines in the management of the complex older patient
• To develop an achievable project to be carried out during the Chief Residency year
• To have fun and foster collegiality

The CRIT Program takes place over the course of two and a half days and focuses on an unfolding interactive surgical case divided into 3 modules follwing a geriatric patient from presentation to the emergency department to hospital discharge. Each module includes evidence-based mini-lectures on topics in geriatrics, small group interactive exercises, and seminars designed to enhance teaching and leadership skills. Chief Residents and Program Directors also attend two or three consultation sessions to develop an action plan for a project to be carried out through the Chief Residency year.

CRIT has provided an effective immediate forum for raising Chief Resident awareness of and interest in geriatrics issues, increasing knowledge about specific syndromes and practices related to geriatrics medicine, enhancing leadership and teaching skills while building confidence for work as a Chief Resident, and reinforcing the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in the care of older patients.  It has also provided the opportunity for Chief Residents, Program Directors, and geriatrics faculty to network with each other and lay the groudwork for multi- and interdisciplinary connections.

The BUMC CRIT has recently received new funding through the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP).  In 2008 the BUMC CRIT will be replicated at five institutions across the country.  The program will continue to spread to a new cohort of schools each year on a national level through 2010.  For more information on the National Demonstration of CRIT see: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/adgap/crit/default.asp.

Please contact Laurie Dubois, Laurie.Dubois@bmc.org or 617-638-6112, for more information about the 2008 CRIT.