How the RIA transforms research into practical solutions
Access to specialized geriatric support shouldn’t depend on your postal code, but for many older adults in Ontario, that’s the reality. Enter GeriMedRisk, an innovative program that evolved from a pilot project into a province-wide clinical program, showcasing the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging’s (RIA) world-class Incubation Acceleration and Mobilization® Model (IAM Model®).
The RIA is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and care of older adults. By connecting research to the real world and tackling some of the most significant issues facing an aging population, the RIA is changing the way we age in Canada.
The RIA’s IAM Model® focuses on advancing research, accelerating the development of practical solutions, and sharing these solutions to benefit older adults. It enables research to be applied in real-life settings, ensuring that innovative solutions are theoretically sound, relevant, practical and impactful. This unique approach addresses the crucial need for timely, impactful interventions in older adult care, and it is the backbone of GeriMedRisk’s success.
Incubation
In 2013, Dr. Joanne Ho, then a resident physician, saw a critical need to create a virtual clinic service that would provide clinicians caring for older adults with access to highly trained specialists, including geriatric medicine, psychiatry, pharmacists, and clinical pharmacologists.
Three years later, Dr. Ho, the Schlegel Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, teamed up with Dr. Sophiya Benjamin, the Schlegel Chair in Mental Health and Aging, to bring this vision to reality through a needs assessment and pilot project launched at the RIA called GeriMedRisk. Since then, GeriMedRisk has evolved to virtually connect physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals with specialists across Ontario.
“The RIA provided a rich environment for GeriMedRisk’s progress during its research phase. The support in grant funding, collaboration with Schlegel Villages, co-design with older adults and care partners, and opportunities to present to the Ontario government were invaluable,” said Dr. Benjamin, co-executive director of GeriMedRisk.
Acceleration
GeriMedRisk quickly proved its value through trials in long-term care homes, reducing the need for multiple specialist visits, reducing adverse drug reactions, and preventing unnecessary emergency department visits.
The success of these trials led to gradual growth, expanding from three regions to the entire province with base funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health in 2019.
Mobilization
To date, the provincially recognized clinical program has completed over 10,000 consultations and has been accessed by more than 35,000 clinicians. From a small team to a robust organization, GeriMedRisk continues to grow, dedicated to evidence-based research and continuous improvement.
Thriving beyond the IAM Model®
“We are grateful to the RIA, and its supportive team and infrastructure, which enabled us to transform a research project into an in-demand, sustainable program that benefits older adults across Ontario and Canada,” said Dr. Ho, co-executive director of GeriMedRisk.
The RIA’s IAM model demonstrates how innovative research can be transformed into practical solutions. GeriMedRisk is a beacon of this success, showcasing how a pilot project can evolve into a vital healthcare service for an entire province.
Read more about the RIA’s IAM Model®.