Geriatric Primary Care & Consultation

Who is a Geriatrician?

A geriatrician is a health care provider who focuses on older adults’ well-being and physical function, mental and social status. They are specifically trained to evaluate and manage the unique health care needs and special treatment requirements of older people.

Older adults face a variety of acute and chronic health conditions. The complexity of these problems usually increases as they age further. A geriatrician addresses their patients’ multiple medical problems and chronic illnesses in holistic approach while focusing on primarily on quality of life and functional ability.

They also determine when is no longer medically safe for older adults to live alone. In this case, they can counsel patients and their families on alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facility, nursing home placement.

What are Dr.Song’s roles at his geriatric clinic?

- Maintaining patient well-being and independent functioning

- Promoting healthy and successful aging

- Leading interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care.

- Monitoring drug regimens and potential drug interaction, drug-disease interaction closely and addressing polypharmacy issue.

- Weighing the potential benefit of a treatment against the possible risks to the patient and guiding on individualized decision

- Screening, evaluating and treating cognitive impairment and emotional disorders in elderly

- Guiding on transitioning to a supportive living facility and long term care alternatives

- Consulting patients on advance care planning and end of life care such as hospice care