What is Geriatrics?
Dr. Emmanuel Gatchalian, Sr.
What is Geriatrics?
Geriatrics is a branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the
prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life.
What is a Geriatrician?
A geriatrician is a medical doctor who is specially trained to prevent and
manage older adults unique and oftentimes, multiple health concerns.
Older persons react to illness and disease differently than younger adults.
Geriatricians are able to treat older patients, manage multiple disease
symptoms and develop care plans that address the special health care
needs of older adults.
Generally, geriatricians are internists and family physicians who have been
specially trained and certified in Geriatric Medicine. There are
approximately thirty geriatricians including some who trained abroad in the
Philippines and a few geropsychiatrists (a psychiatrist trained to deal with
the mental health needs and specific syndromes faced by older adults)
Other health care professionals who work on a geriatric team such as
nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation experts,
pharmacists, and nutritionists may have advanced training in geriatrics.
Who needs to see a Geriatrician?
People over the age 65 have different degrees of disability and illness.
Some have no problems at all, while others have many serious health
concerns. Geriatricians see healthy as well as frail older people. While
older persons are cared for by general internists, and family physicians,
geriatricians should be sought to provide care for the frailest of older
persons because of unique qualifications and training.
Geriatric Medicine Services




At present Cebu has three geriatricians- Drs. Noel Ponce, Juliene Ereño and Naome Oh- who work together to implement awareness on
caring for older adults. The campaign was initiated through radio
appearances as requested by local stations that bore impressive interactions with the listening public. Senior Citizens' fora have been
conducted in three Cebu City barangays, two southern towns, a neighboring city, and the Diamond Club, a senior club organized by Sacred
Heart Parish.

Geriatricians are continually invited to CME activities like hospital grand rounds, round table discussions, postgraduate courses and local
PCP-sponsored conventions, to speak on specific issues on aging. Articles on different syndromes are contributed by yours truly and Dr.
Philip Chua, a cardiothoracic surgeon, to a local newspaper, Cebu Daily News. The O.P. magazine has been a welcome addition to our few
resources.

The academe has steadily included Aging in its prescribed curriculum. Modules on Physiology of Aging, Elderly Maltreatment and Geriatric
syndromes were recently incorporated in PBL levels II and III at the Cebu Doctor's University College of Medicine where the three geriatricians
work as faculty members. Two other medical schools- Southwestern University and the University of the Visayas - have added instructions in
Geriatric Medicine for the past three years. Caregiver schools' inclusion of Care for the Elderly module has widened societal information and
improved clinical skills among health workers.

Other services include a Geriatric clinic during the DYAB-Cebu-sponsored medical mission; free bone mineral density (BMD) determination;
and immunization programs by geriatricians and other specialists to private patients. A visit to an institution for the dying and destitute called
Gasa sa Gugma is done every year by Cebu Doctors medical students who examine and conduct the Mini-mental Status Exam (MMSE) to
residents.

The referral system has gradually improved in both in- and out-patient settings. Geriatricians participate in multi-level care of hospitalized
patients using a multidisciplinary approach, with maintenance of open communication among care providers. Home-based care for  the
chronically ill and regular visits to bed-bound and the oldest-old patients has benefited them in convenience and autonomy. Likewise,
continuoushospice care has prepared the patients and family members spiritually, physically and psychologically, and helped to develop a
strong affinity between care providers and care recipients.

With the anticipated growth of the older population, Geriatric Medicine in the country will evolve optimally as a modern specialty with special
regard for quality-of-care attuned to Philippine culture that, despite political and economic turmoil, is propelled by preservation of family and
authentic reverence for elderly.
PSGM Certified Geriatric Medicine Specialists in the
Best Hospitals in the Philippines

Manila Doctor’s Hospital
Geriatric Multidisciplinary Clinic
TM Kalaw St.
Ermita, Manila
Tel 5243011 loc 4603

Philippine General Hospital
Geriatric Outpatient Clinic
Department of Outpatient Services
Taft Avenue
Ermita, Manila
Tel 5218450

St. Luke’s Medical Center
Geriatric Center
E. Rodriguez Ave.
Cubao, Quezon City
Tel 7230101 loc 4911


The Medical City
Geriatric Wellness
Center for Healthy Aging
Ortigas, Ave., Pasig
Metro Manila
Tel 6356789 loc 6386
Click here for Medical City Website

University of Sto. Tomas Hospital
Rm 6011 MAB
España
Metro Manila
Tel 7499768
GERIATRIC MEDICINE IN CEBU
Noel H. Ponce, MD