Introduced in July 2006, the Fast Forward Rounds (FFR) course teaches third year medical students key aspects about the discharge planning process for older adults with chronic illness.

The primary objective of the course is to encourage students to involve the patient in the development of a comprehensive care plan, and to communicate that plan to the medical professional(s) who will provide care in the post-hospital setting. To accomplish this primary objective and engage the students in thoughtful discharge planning, the course reviews the importance of performing a functional assessment early in the hospital course to identify patients at risk for complications upon discharge and promotes collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to link at-risk patients with appropriate home-care services and community resources. Another objective of the program is to familiarize students with the various housing options available to patients who cannot safely return home, as well as introduce the basic points of Medicare and New York State Medicaid. This objective is important because the creation of a comprehensive care plan requires physicians to have a general understanding of reimbursement options for the services, medical equipment and care settings they recommend for their patients.

By giving medical students the necessary tools to provide optimal care for older patients with chronic illness, the FFR course seeks to illustrate the rewarding aspects of caring for this population. Geriatric fellows will serve as the adjunct teachers and facilitators of the Fast Forward Rounds course. While designed to engage the medical students as active learners, the course allows the medical residents to enhance their teaching skills and reinforce their knowledge of chronic illness care.

The Fast Forward Rounds course was developed in collaboration with faculty from the Division of Geriatrics, faculty in charge of the Internal Medicine Clerkship Program, and the Directors of the Primary Care Residency Program.

For information on Fast Forward Rounds Course, please contact the Division of Geriatrics at (212) 746-1729.