Lefroy R B
Aust Fam Physician. 1978 Mar;7(3):259-65.
Geriatric medicine has now been practised as a specialty for 30 years; there is still argument as to its usefulness, and it is not regarded as an attractive career. At the same time there is a large gap between the standard of acute medicine an that offered to people with continuing disabilities, most of whom are elderly. If this area of medicine is to become more effective, it should be an extension of the responsibilities and activities of the medical centre, practised by a hospital based team, complementing the existing activities of the family doctor and the acute hospital. This method would not only raise the standard, but provide opportunity for a reasonable career. Medical care should be arranged according to disability--not according to age. The name 'extended care' referring to the method of practice, could well replace the worn out label of 'geriatric', which gives unnecessary emphasis to old age. But more important than what it is called, is how it is performed.
老年医学作为一门专业学科已实践了30年；关于其效用仍存在争议，而且它并不被视为一个有吸引力的职业。与此同时，急性病医疗水平与为持续残疾者（其中大多数是老年人）提供的医疗水平之间存在很大差距。如果这一医学领域想要更有成效，它应该是医疗中心职责和活动的延伸，由医院团队来实施，以补充家庭医生和急症医院现有的活动。这种方法不仅会提高医疗水平，还会提供合理的职业机会。医疗护理应根据残疾情况来安排——而不是根据年龄。“延伸护理”这个名称指的是这种实践方法，很可能会取代陈旧的“老年医学”标签，后者不必要地强调了老年。但比它叫什么更重要的是它如何实施。
