[Geriatrics and nursing home medicine].

The responsibility and the duties of a geriatrician are completely different from the duties of a medical doctor in a 'nursing-home'. This term 'nursing-home' does not exactly coincide with the term 'verpleeghuis'. Primarily the geriatrician is in charge of diagnostics and therapy and works together with various consulting medical specialists and in the setting of a general hospital. Geriatrics have grown out of internal medicine, and the 'verpleeghuisgeneeskunde' finds its roots in general practice. The medical doctor of a 'nursing-home' exercises general medical practice, in particular symptomatic treatment and functional medical care with the assistance of and in co-operation with nurses and the para-medical departments. Both geriatrics and 'verpleeghuisgeneeskunde' should get their own education and acknowledgement.