UNMC to seek approval of new geriatric center

Harold M. Maurer, M.D.

Jane Potter, M.D.

To better meet the needs of the sky-rocketing older population, UNMC will seek approval of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday of a program statement and budget for construction of a new geriatric center on the UNMC campus.

If approved, the new center would be built at the intersection of Leavenworth Street and 38th Avenue at the present site occupied by the Annex 4, 5 and 6 buildings. Plans call for these annex buildings to be demolished with occupants of these buildings relocated into Bennett Hall after its renovation is completed.

The geriatric center, which would cost nearly $10.2 million, would be a two-story facility containing 28,000 square feet. Construction would begin in August 2008 with completion in August 2009. It is anticipated that the cost of the building will be funded completely through private donations.

“The dream of having a stand-alone geriatric center has been on our radar screen for several years,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “We are thrilled to see this dream finally become a reality. The baby boomers are reaching their senior years. The timing is absolutely right for us to have a facility that will take our already outstanding geriatric programs to a world-class level.”

Dr. Maurer said the new geriatric center would reunite the sections of geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry, while expanding research and patient care, improving education infrastructure and providing outreach facilities to enhance successful aging.

“The geriatric center will be a major new addition to the revitalization that is taking place in Midtown Omaha. It will separate UNMC from other geriatric programs,” said Jane Potter, M.D., professor and chief of the section of geriatrics and gerontology. “It will provide the resources we need to truly elevate every aspect of our geriatric programs. The entire staff couldn’t be more excited about the potential this building holds for future generations to come. It is truly a landmark event for our state.”

An artist’s rendering of the entry to the proposed UNMC geriatrics clinic.

Today, people age 85 and older are the fastest growing element of the population, and more than 36 million Americans are older than 65. By 2030, that number will nearly double and reach 71 million with one in every five Americans older than 65. Nebraska, along with other Midwestern states, has seen a rapid aging of its population due to greater natural longevity and an out-migration of younger people, said Dr. Potter, who served as president of the American Geriatrics Society in 2005-06 and is now serving as chair of the AGS board of directors.

Gerontology and geriatric medicine have been part of the medical school curriculum since 1981, and training in geriatrics has been mandatory for internal medicine and family medicine residents for more than 20 years. Currently, there are seven geriatric physicians, five geriatric psychiatrists and one geriatric psychologist on the faculty.

“Bringing the geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists together in one facility will make a huge difference,” Dr. Potter said. “With parking right outside the front door of the geriatric center, it will be much more convenient for patients.”

Dr. Potter said UNMC’s geriatric education and research will thrive in the new facility.

“The geriatric center will allow us to expose our health professional students to relatively well older people,” she said. “Too often, they only see older people with a myriad of health problems in the hospital setting. By exposing them to older people who are enjoying life, it will serve as a catalyst for many students to want to pursue careers in geriatrics.”

The geriatric center will increase clinical and translational research, she said, by establishing an environment that will make it much more conducive for clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and other geriatric-specific disorders.

Entrance to the building would be on the north side. The clinic and staff offices will be on the entrance level with a Community Education and Outreach Center taking up most of the lower level. The Community Education and Outreach Center will include a wellness clinic for health screenings and education, case management services, exercise programs, recreation and nutrition services.

“Most of today’s health care students will spend the majority of their careers caring for people over 65 years of age,” Dr. Potter said. “The new geriatric center will provide UNMC with a facility that will be a resource for the entire state and one that can truly make a difference in thousands of lives.”

College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., said the new center will be a coup for UNMC.

“The addition of the geriatric center is vital, as we strive to better meet the health care needs of our state and the region ,” Dr. Gollan said. “The center will allow us to greatly enhance the wide array of services required for older adults, and it will provide UNMC with a unique niche in the health care arena.”