Slide Presentation from the AHRQ 2007 Annual Conference

Using Clinical Decision Support Systems to Measure and Improve Quality of Care for Special Populations: The Elderly in the Long-term Care Setting

Jerry H. Gurwitz, M.D.
Executive Director
Meyers Primary Care Institute
Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts

Notes:

Dr. Atkinson, Dr. Lietman, members of the Society, and guests. I would like to express my appreciation for this truly special honor. I would also like to give special thanks to Bill Abrams who I consider a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. Over the years, Bill has been a major force in stimulating my interest in the field of Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology. As much as any other single individual, Bill was responsible for the establishment of the Merck/AFAR Fellowship in Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology which I had the opportunity to benefit from and which has supported the training of 18 young investigators since its inception in 1988. As many of you are aware, the Society yesterday awarded the first William B. Abrams Award in Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology. This award will continue to honor Bill for many years to come. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Bill for his boundless and unselfish efforts on behalf of our Society and on behalf of the field of Clinical Pharmacology.

This morning, I will be discussing the topic of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy and I'd like to begin with a quote from a major figure in the history of modern medicine- William Withering.