# GAPcare II: The Geriatric Acute & Post-acute Care Coordination Program for Fall Prevention in the Emergency Department

> **NIH NIH K76** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2020 · $66,285

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 4% of older adults used telehealth, but uptake has been rapid since the
start of social distancing. However, little is known about physicians’ experiences implementing telehealth or
the extent of uptake among US physicians. There is a critical need to disseminate useful telehealth strategies
that physicians have employed to treat older adults, especially those with disabilities (e.g. visual, hearing,
mobility, cognitive), living in facilities, with limited digital know-how or access to technology. Through in-
depth interviews with geriatricians, primary care, and emergency physicians, who are the first point of contact
during COVID-19, and a subsequent national survey, we propose revealing these strategies, understanding the
scope of telehealth uptake nationally, and disseminating our insights which could inform healthcare delivery
transformation for older adults. The rationale that underlies the proposed research is that physicians have
made important discoveries about telehealth since the start of COVID-19 and disseminating lessons learned
will ensure that older adult needs are considered as care is rapidly shifted to the virtual environment. Without
attention to equity and leveraging insights of physicians that care for older adults, the “digital divide” will cause
already existing inequities in medical care to further increase at the expense of older adults. Identifying where
telehealth has not yet been implemented can be helpful to focus awareness efforts. Dr. Goldberg will pursue the
following two specific aims: (1) conduct semi-structured telephone interviews (n=36-54) with geriatricians,
primary care and emergency physicians (n=12-18 each), stratified by practice setting (metro/suburban/rural
(n=12-18 each)) and type (academic/community (n=18-27 each)) to explore telehealth services
provided/abandoned, modes of use, facilitators/barriers, practical considerations, and experiences with
providing care remotely to older adults. We will solicit physicians on social media platforms (Twitter,
Facebook), and via specialty society listserves. Findings will inform item generation, reduction, and question
content for the survey; (2) conduct a web-based national survey of geriatricians, primary care and emergency
physicians (n=1,600, 1% of each specialty) using the American Medical Association’s Physician Masterfile to
estimate the scope of telehealth use, methods of delivery, barriers/challenges to adoption, and lessons learned
delivering care to older adults. This contribution is expected to be significant because the choices physicians
make in adapting their clinical practice to the remote environment - what modes to use, how to train and assess
patients - are likely to dictate if older adults’ needs and challenges are considered as the future of healthcare
delivery takes shape. Dr. Goldberg’s overarching aims are to ensure older adults receive medical care in the
most suitable setting by enhanci...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10170870
- **Project number:** 3K76AG059983-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Goldberg
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $66,285
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10170870

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10170870, GAPcare II: The Geriatric Acute & Post-acute Care Coordination Program for Fall Prevention in the Emergency Department (3K76AG059983-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10170870. Licensed CC0.

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