Outpatient Geriatric Clinic of the 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine
The Outpatient Geriatric Clinic operates on Wednesdays at building B of Laikon General Hospital. Services are provided to the general population of adults older than 75 years from the community, or younger individuals (>65 years) referred by other providers for diagnosis and management of geriatric syndromes (unsteady gait, falls, fractures, chronic pain, memory impairment, mood disorders, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, dysphagia, urinary incontinence, and frailty). The Geriatric Clinic’s goals of care include timely detection, differential diagnosis, prioritization, and optimal management of geriatric syndromes. In order to achieve these goals, the interdisciplinary team of the clinic performs a comprehensive geriatric assessment on each patient, thus obtaining a holistic overview of all of the bio-psycho-social medical problems of older adults. The ultimate purpose of Geriatric care is to help older persons regain or maintain functional autonomy and improve their quality of life, in accordance to their principles and personal values.
The Geriatric Clinic was founded and is directed by Professor of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Petros P Sfikakis. The clinical lead is Assistant Professor of Geriatrics Evrydiki Kravvariti, and additional staff include physiotherapist Danae Sgouropoulou and psychologist Vasileia Mari. The interdisciplinary team is further complimented by Speech and Swallow pathologists, who also screen all patients for dysphagia and communication disorders, through the support of a national scientific grant. The clinic collaborates closely with the hospital’s nursing staff all other clinics, as well as the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and Dr Haris Dimosthenopoulos in particular, for the support of older patients with undernutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity.
Moreover, Outpatient Geriatric Clinic of the 1st Department of Propaedeutic and Internal Medicine is a place of practicum for Postgraduate Students in the “Physiology of Aging and Geriatric Syndromes” masters’ program of the University of Athens’ Medical School ; these are primarily physicians of various specialties (mostly Internists, General Practitioners, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians, and Psychiatrists), as well as allied healthcare professionals comprising the Geriatric Internisciplinary Team (dentists, clinical pharmacists, nurses, physical therapits, occupational therapists, speech and swallow pathologists, dieticians, psychologists, social workers). In each of its days of operation, the serves as a teaching place of geriatric assessment and philosophy of care for 1-3 health professionals.
To book an appointment (Wednesdays 10 am – 1 pm): Please call the Healthline 1535 (clinic code 09176) or book online at 1535.gr