Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

Birmingham/Atlanta GRECC

• Incontinence and related disorders
• Mobility and rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases
• Clinical decision support to manage chronic conditions, polypharmacy, and end-of-life care
• Strategies to promote non-institutionalized care

• Comparing treatments for urinary symptoms in Parkinson’s disease
• Treating coexisting nocturia and insomnia
• Improving access to urinary incontinence treatments
• Prevention of lower urinary tract symptoms
• Exercise interventions in cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, HIV and Alzheimer’s disease
• Hospital mobility programs
• Genetics of osteoarthritis and joint replacement recovery
• Reducing potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in the Emergency Department (EQUiPPED)
• Implementation and dissemination of innovative programs in VA Community Living Centers
• Implementation of comfort care order sets

• OAA GRECC Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics – Two-year career development award to prepare post-graduate interprofessional leaders in geriatric research, education, and clinical innovation. Learn more about the Advanced Fellowship at Birmingham/Atlanta GRECC. Contact: katharina.echt@va.gov or quiana.heard@va.gov
• GRECC Health Professions Trainee Curriculum: Communicating with Older Patients, Family, and the Healthcare Team
• Age-Friendly Communication Training /Aging Sensitivity for all new employees (orientation).
• All Workforce Dementia Communication Skills Training: Start Making Sense: How to Communicate Effectively with Veterans with Dementia, accredited video training/trainer package (TMS #15873)
• Geriatric Scholars Program - Palliative and Supportive Care Advanced Practicum.
• Employee Enrichment & Wellness Lunch N' Learn series - 'Caring for you so you can care for others workforce series to spark, ignite, and sustain a sense of Joy in Work including offerings in support of workforce health, wellness, profession development, and fun.

• Increased access to geriatric care, including caregiver support, cognitive evaluation, and medication management, for rural areas in the Southeast
• Continence care, including telehealth clinics
• Fall prevention and mobility assessment and treatment
• Created decision support toolkits for providers
• Age-friendly health system participant sites
• Teaching sites for residents, fellows, advanced practice nurses and other health professionals

• Individualization and the Health Care Mosaic in Assisted Living Gerontologisthttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29917071/
• Behavioral therapy for urinary symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A randomized clinical trial Urol Urodyn https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31187552/
• Effects of a Hypocaloric, Nutritionally Complete, Higher Protein Meal Plan on Regional Body Fat and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Older Adults with Obesity Ann Nutr Metab https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30754039/
• Lower Limb Rigidity Is Associated with Frequent Falls in Parkinson's Disease Mov Disord Clin Pract https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31392245/
• Academic Detailing to Reduce Sedative-Hypnotic Prescribing in Older Veterans Pharm Pract https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31446823/
• Farrell TW, Volden TA, Butler JM, Eleazer GP, Rupper RW, Echt KV, Shaughnessy M, Supiano MA.  Age-friendly care in the Veterans Health Administration: past, present, and future. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023;71(1):18-25. doi:10.1111/jgs.18070
• Muirhead, L., Echt, K.V., Alexis A.M., Mirk, A. (2022). Social Determinants of Health: Considerations for Care of Older Veterans. Vulnerable Populations.The Nursing Clinics of North America, 57(3), 329-345. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2022.04.002.
• Burgio KL, Echt KV, Markland AD, Enemchukwu E, Williams BR. (2024) A Mobile Telehealth Program for Behavioral Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women Veterans: Qualitative Evaluation of MyHealtheBladder. Journal of Women and Aging: Special Issue on Aging Female Veterans, doi:10.1080/08952841.2024.2401716.

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