Our population is aging. In July 2003, there were 35.9 million people in the United States over the age of 65. In 2030, it is expected that this number will double (1).

There are various concerns associated with this growth, one of which is appropriate health care for this group of people. This chapter will serve as an overview of the field of geriatric medicine, a field of medicine specifically devoted to the care of the elderly patient. Traditionally, the age at which geriatric medicine begins is 65. However, as we will see, geriatrics is defined by more than just an age criterion.

The field of geriatric medicine is a relatively young specialty. The term “geriatrics” was first described in clinical medicine in 1909 by Ignatz L. Nascher (2).

Dr. Nascher recognized that there was a need to distinguish care for those who were over the age of 65. As the years passed, specific training for those interested in serving the geriatric population became available. In 1968, the first fellowship training program was developed at the City Hospital Center in Queens, NY. The fellowship training accepted those who had completed a residency in either Internal Medicine or Family Practice and required candidates to complete 2 years of training. In 1981, there were 36 geriatric medicine programs (2). Currently, there are over 100 training programs in the United States.

In 1988, a certification exam was established by the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Until 1994, fellowship training was not required to take the exam. Those with “substantial clinical experience” could get certified in geriatric medicine. Beginning in 1994, a fellowship was required to take the certification exam. In 1995, partially as a response to try to attract more physicians to the field of geriatrics, the fellowship length was changed to 1 year.