Ham’s Primary Care Geriatrics: A Case-Based Approach, 7th Edition

By Gregg A. Warshaw, MD, Jane F. Potter, MD, Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, Matthew K. McNabney, Mitchell T. Heflin and Richard J. Ham, MD

ISBN: 9780323721684

Pub Date: March 17th, 2021

Reviewed By: Belinda Setters, MD, MS, FACP, AGSF (Robley Rex VA Medical Center)

Description

This steadfast, cornerstone book for geriatric medicine is comprehensive and case-based, covering geriatric assessments, geriatric syndromes, and organ system-based geriatric problems as well as various areas of care such as long-term care. This seventh edition is definitely needed and appropriate, as the previous edition was published in 2014. The book was first published in 1983. The accompanying website replicates the print version and adds videos demonstrating exams for things like dizziness.

Purpose

The purpose is to cover the field of geriatric medicine from comprehensive geriatric assessments to assessment of the different geriatric syndromes like delirium, dementia, dizziness, and falls. It also discusses the various care areas where older adult patients might receive care such as the outpatient office, emergency department, and long-term care facility. Lastly, the book covers organ system disease states common among older adult patients such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, renal insufficiency, and dermatological disorders.

Audience

The audience is geriatric practitioners, specifically geriatric medicine providers who care for older adult patients across the continuum of care, as well as internal medicine and family medicine providers who desire additional knowledge in caring for their older adult patients. It also would be of interest to other providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Learners such as geriatric medicine fellows, internal medicine residents, family medicine residents, and others rotating on geriatric medicine clerkships such as medical students. The authors and contributors are geriatric and specialty area experts. Their credentials are impeccable as are the references cited.

Features

The book is organized into three units: Principles and Practice, Geriatric Syndromes and Common Special Problems, and Selected Clinical Problems of the Organ System. The first unit addresses assessment of older geriatric patients as well as important topics such as ethics, financing of older patient care (Medicare and insurance), and care of the LGBTQ patient. Unit two covers geriatric syndromes such as dementia and falls as well as other common problems for older adults like depression, frailty, and hearing loss. The third unit covers common diseases affecting older adults like hypertension and stroke, oral disease and poor dentition, and benign prostate hypertrophy, etc. The organization and comprehensive nature of the book are excellent. The authors and contributors are field experts. The inclusion of the online version and the videos are very nice additions.

Assessment

This book is well done and easy to use. It includes cases in each of the chapters, which many readers will find relatable and will add to their learning. In terms of content, this book truly is well done. It includes all the important care areas, assessments, syndromes, and the common special organ problems primary practitioners, geriatric consultants, and other primary care providers will see.

© Doody’s Review Service, 2021, Belinda Setters, MD, MS, FACP, AGSF (Robley Rex VA Medical Center) Doody’s Score: 94-4 Stars!

Purchase Ham’s Primary Care Geriatrics: A Case-Based Approach, 7th Edition here!