What Skills & Qualities are required?
Qualities needed in physicians considering a career in Geriatric Medicine:
- Excellent clinical skills to allow the physician to take a full history, carry out a clinical examination, establish a differential diagnosis and formulate a management plan in a variety of clinical settings
- Ability and desire to work as a team with other professionals
- Compassionate understanding of the special needs of older people and their families
- An interest in ageing and the interface between ageing and disease
- Ability to identify principal problems resulting in deterioration in health of the individual
- Ability to maintain an optimum outlook on the clinical outcome of patients in both acute and chronic care settings
- Recognition that small gains in functional status can lead to major improvements in quality of life and well beings
- Applicants for ST3 posts will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the specialty and a desire to work with older people and their families