Cleveland GRECC 111C(W)

Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC
10701 East Boulevard                           

Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: (216) 791-3800 ext. 5657 
Fax: (216) 707-5973 

Affiliation:   

Case Western Reserve University 
 

GRECC Director:   

Robert Bonomo, M.D. 

Associate Director for Research

David Canaday, MD

Associate Director for Education/Evaluation: 

Denise Kresevic, RN, PhD

Associate Director for Clinical:

Thomas R. Hornick, M.D.   

Cleveland GRECC Research Focus:  Infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, immunology of aging & treatment of chronic viral infections (HIV, HCV), Influenza & varicella zoster virus (VZV) post herpetic neuralgia, dementia care,  

Accomplishments: The Cleveland GRECC serves elderly Veterans in Ohio. This year 2,178 person hours of geriatric education was provided and $2,600,242 in research awards was expended. Current research interests of the Cleveland GRECC include: drug resistance in treating infections in the elderly; infectious diseases in nursing homes; the effects of lighting on behavior in long term care facilities; vitamin D deficiency.

Clinical:  The Cleveland GRECC operates an Infectious Disease on-site consultation program in the Community Living Center (CLC) in Cleveland and  has expanded to include the CLC at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center.  This is an innovative and novel approach to providing infectious disease consultation for Veterans. Infectious disease needs are addressed by GRECC ID physician and nurse practitioner who conduct weekly rounds or provide consultation through televideoconference.  This has resulted in a reduction in the need to transfer patients to acute care settings. The effect of circadian light on the behavior of patients with dementia is also being studied.

Education: The GRECC coordinates a weekly continuing medical education series “Topics in Geriatric Medicine which is televideoconferenced throughout Ohio, North Carolina, Vermont, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.  The geriatric clinic is a major training site for 2nd year medical residents. The Advanced Aging Core rotation for 4th year medical students for the UH/VA site is coordinated through the GRECC.