Interdisciplinary Functional Assessment via Telemedicine: Geriatric Considerations
Includes a Live Web Event on 10/13/2026 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
-
Register
- Non-Member - $25
- Comp Member - $15
- Emeritus Member - $15
- Regular Member - $15
- Retired Member - $15
- Spouse Member - $15
- GSA Staff - Free!
- Transitional Member - $15
- Graduate Student/Post-Doc Member - $15
- Undergraduate Student Member - $15
Age-Friendly geriatrics assessment emphasizes a patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach guided by the 4Ms—What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility—alongside a comprehensive evaluation of functional, physical, cognitive, and social needs to optimize health and quality of life. Many older adults face barriers to interdisciplinary assessment due to distance from care or mobility and other limitations that make attending in-clinic visits a challenge. Telemedicine has been an invaluable resource to increase access to specialty care which has proven acceptable to patients. However, there is limited information about adapting interdisciplinary functional assessment processes to telemedicine administration. This workshop will provide attendees with practical experience and tips-and-tricks to facilitate interdisciplinary telemedicine assessments with older adults around practice areas, 1) Medication Reconciliation, 2) Synchronous Mobility Assessment, 3) Asynchronous Mobility and Environmental Assessment, 4) Synchronous Performance-based ADL and IADL Assessment and 5) Brief Cognitive Assessment. This topic is well suited for an interactive virtual workshop for three key reasons. In each of five total breakout sessions, our interdisciplinary presenters will leverage the virtual format to demonstrate and provide coaching on actual assessments done through telemedicine, giving the audience a picture of what to expect and how to problem-solve in practice. Second, the virtual workshop format allows us to share resources and tools that our presenters are using in real time, so that audience members can follow along and even practice assessments via a see one (during workshop), do one (during workshop), teach one approach (post-workshop). Learning across the five breakouts will crystallize when at the conclusion of the workshop, breakout room participants will have assessed and acted on all 4Ms. After completing the workshop, we expect audience members to go forth and teach their teammates what they have learned, to implement these assessments in their own context. Finally, a multi-component, interdisciplinary, virtual workshop models the dynamic nature of an Age-Friendly telemedicine visit. All of these make this topic and the format conducive for practical, hands-on learning.
Megan Gately, PhD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy Health Scientist
VA Bedford Healthcare System
Megan E. Gately, PhD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist and researcher at the Bedford site of the New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Bedford Healthcare System. Dr. Gately’s work aims to increase older patient and caregiver access to care, particularly by developing innovative rehabilitation strategies to maximize participation in day-to-day activities and minimize the negative impact of chronic conditions such as dementia.
Chelsea Hawley, PharmD, MPH
Geriatric Research Pharmacist
VA Bedford Healthcare System
Dr. Chelsea Hawley is a Geriatrics Research Pharmacist. Dr. Hawley’s research interests include telemedicine, medication adherence, and innovative models of care for chronic disease state-management for older adults. Her educational scholarship, which focuses on empowering interprofessional audiences to learn, practice, and teach principles of the 4Ms for the Age-Friendly health system. This includes directing the VA's National Coordinating Center for the Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics, which empowers the next generation of leaders in geriatric research, education, and clinical innovation so that older Veterans can live the lives that matter to them. Dr. Hawley is the clinical pharmacist in the new Outpatient Geriatrics Consult Clinic at Bedford and the Research Pharmacist for Bedford VA.
Helen Hoenig, MD, MPH
Professor, Duke University School of Medicine
Lead/Rehab & Extended Care, Durham Veteran Affairs Health Care System
Dr. Hoenig has over 30-years of experience in geriatrics and rehabilitation, and in rehabilitation research. She served as Chief of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service as the Durham VA Health Care Center for over 25 years. Currently she is Rehabilitation & Extended Care Lead at the Durham VA Health Care System and the Subject Matter Expert for the VA Mobile App “My VA Images – Photo/Video”. Dr. Hoenig is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics at Duke University.
Lauren Moo, MD
Site Director
New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Bedford Healthcare System
Dr. Lauren Moo is a Cognitive Behavioral Neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and is the Site Director for the Bedford VA Medical Center division of the New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC). Her current research, educational programming, and clinical innovation projects primarily focus on aging/dementia, the role of informal caregivers, and the use of telehealth and other technologies.
Michelle Rauzi, PT, DPT, ATC, PhD
Advanced Research Fellow, Department of Veterans Affairs
Adjoint Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Dr. Rauzi received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Linfield College in 2009, a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 2015, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medial Campus in 2023. Dr. Rauzi’s mission is to meaningfully improve Veteran healthcare. Specifically, her long-term research goals are to improve physical rehabilitation and sustainability of outcomes for older adults with chronic conditions and for individuals suffering from chronic pain. Her current research focuses on the use of digital health technologies to deliver physical therapy services, facilitate data sharing, and supplement interventions. Dr. Rauzi lives east of the Denver-Metro area with her husband and two children. When she’s not working, you can find her at the gym, spending time with family, or if it’s the summer, catching some sunshine at the lake.
All times are ET
Agenda
| 12:00 PM | Introduction & Overview |
| 12:15 PM | Breakout Rooms: Speakers on each of the topics below will rotate through breakout rooms until all attendees have heard all speakers |
| Medication Reconciliation | |
| Synchronous Mobility Assessment | |
| Asynchronous Mobility Assessment | |
| Performance-Based ADL and IADL Assessment | |
| Brief Cognitive Assessment | |
| 1:50 PM | Closing Remarks |
Key:
Complete
Next
Failed
Available
Locked