ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the Geriatrics Education Rural-Urban Alliance (GERA), which provides a group of education programs aimed at increasing knowledge and skills among primary care providers and trainees in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. It provides an overview of five tested approaches to increase workforce competency in geriatrics: education in geriatrics for primary care providers, distance learning, expert consultation to remote and rural providers, exposing trainees to geriatrics, and continuing professional education. Within a framework of proven models, the aim of GERA is to increase competencies in geriatrics among primary care providers as it is not feasible to increase the geriatrics specialist workforce in the near future. The Rural Provider and Health Care Staff Training and Education Initiative and GRECC Connect both offer opportunities for rural primary care providers to learn about geriatrics and gerontology through online learning and telehealth facilitated by geriatrics specialists.
