GRACE Interdisciplinary Team Suggestions (pdf) Patient and GRACE Support Team Member Primary care provider and GRACE Support Team Member

The Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE) model of primary care for low-income seniors and their primary care physicians (PCPs) was developed to improve the quality of geriatric care to optimize health and functional status, decrease excess healthcare use, and prevent long-term nursing home placement.

The GRACE Interdisciplinary Team Suggestions or GRACE protocols are based on published practice guidelines and input from local primary care providers to target 12 geriatric conditions for quality improvement. For each condition, GRACE protocols specify recommendations for evaluation and management that are individualized and implemented by the GRACE support team to provide care for intervention patients participating in the GRACE randomized controlled trial.

The GRACE model of care and Interdisciplinary Team Suggestions are described in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Counsell SR, Callahan CM, Buttar AB, Clark DO, Frank KI. Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE): a new model of primary care for low-income seniors. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Jul;54(7):1136-41.

The information provided here, including text and images, is for educational and informational purposes only and should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider.

Counsell SR, Callahan CM, Clark DO, Tu W, Buttar AB, Stump TE, Ricketts GD. Geriatric care management for low-income seniors: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Dec 12;298(22):2623-33.

Counsell SR, Callahan CM, Tu W, Stump TE, Arling GW. Cost analysis of the Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders care management intervention. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 Aug;57(8):1420-6.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has recognized the GRACE program as an innovative approach to patient care delivery and has selected the program to appear in its Health Care Innovations Exchange. GRACE appears in an Innovation Profile titled, Team-Developed Care Plan and Ongoing Care Management by Social Workers and Nurse Practitioners Result in Better Outcomes and Fewer Emergency Department Visits for Low-Income Seniors.

If you want additional information about the protocols or wish to use them, contact Steven R. Counsell, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, 1001 West 10th Street, WOP-M200, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Email Dr. Counsell.