STRIDE Community Health Center (formerly MCPN) is thrilled and honored to work in partnership with The Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence in the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Collaborative. The GWEP will allow STRIDE, The Center, and several other healthcare organizations to focus on enhancing training and resources for geriatric care providers and to improve the ability to care for older adults across Colorado over the next five years. A broad range of STRIDE’s clinical care team members will participate in the delivery of geriatric healthcare in an age-friendly environment, including the addition of Barbara Morris, MD, a trained and well-renowned Geriatrician, in February 2020. Dr. Morris, together with Savita Ginde, MD, MPH, STRIDE’s Chief Healthcare Officer, will spearhead the development and implementation of geriatric healthcare services, which will include medical, behavioral health and oral health services. STRIDE will pilot its geriatric program at its health center, Union Square Plaza at Jefferson Center for Mental Health (12055 W 2nd Pl Lakewood, CO 80228).
In March 2020, this cross-departmental clinical care team will participate in an Interprofessional Team Training. This training will continue to develop STRIDE’s Union team for Geriatric-specific team-based care through the implementation of team-specific skills that are essential to the operations of an effective healthcare team.
“STRIDE is eager to lead training and partnership efforts that will enhance the delivery of health services to older adults in our communities,” said Dr. Ginde. “Older adults deserve medical care that factors in the aging process and its impact on health. The opportunity to improve care for this growing population is one that we are enthusiastic to contribute to.”
As a Community Health Center, STRIDE addresses the need for affordable and accessible medical, behavioral health, and dental care among low-income, uninsured, and underserved populations residing outside the city and county of Denver. In 2018, STRIDE served nearly 3,600 patients who were 65 or older.