P.E.I. Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover and George Proud MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment today of Prince Edward Island's new geriatrician, Dr. Howard Zacharias.
"It is with great pleasure that we advise that beginning in May, 1998 Prince Edward Island will have its first geriatrician, Dr. Howard Zacharias. The new service will meet an important need for our seniors and their families now, and it will also be helpful to us as we prepare to meet the changing health needs of an aging population," said Minister Dover.
The provincial geriatrician service will be based out of the East Prince Health region. Dr. Zacharias will also be contracted by Veterans Affairs Canada on a part-time basis to work with the veteran population.
"Research conducted by Veterans Affairs Canada in the past year confirms that older veterans, like the general seniors' population, suffer from a range of illnesses and disabilities. We are especially pleased to have this opportunity to partner with the Province in an initiative that promises to add to our collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing this special group of Canadians," noted Mr. Proud.
Mr. Proud indicated that Prince Edward Island is fortunate to have been able to attract a geriatrician with the excellent qualifications that Dr. Zacharias possesses.
Dr. Zacharias received his medical doctorate in 1971 and his clinical fellowship in geriatric medicine in 1979 from the University of Manitoba. Since 1983, he has been an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Manitoba and a consultant in geriatric medicine for the South Central Region of Manitoba which serves a population of 80,000.
Dr. Zacharias lives in the small rural community of Morden, Manitoba with his wife and two children. His particular interests are in rural health care delivery, geriatric rehabilitation, and geropsychiatry.
He spent three months in Prince Edward Island in 1995 providing a provincial consultation with staff in the five regions on seniors services as part of the provincial Seniors Assessment Program, a partnership of the Department of Health and Social Services and Veterans Affairs Canada.
The consultation report identified two major needs on the Island which included support for psychogeriatric/Alzheimer patients, and the need for geriatric expertise to maximize quality of life for the geriatric population and potentially reduce health care costs.
Dr. Bill Walker, search committee member, said the geriatrician should provide a catalyst for optimal care of the elderly population, influencing others in their care, approach and work.
"We have an increasing need for geriatric medicine and particularly help for the elderly population who experience falls, dementia, confusion, immobility and anxiety. Dr. Zacharias will work with family physicians, patients and their families to provide assessment and treatment for the specific and often complex needs of these patients and their families," he said.
Geriatric medicine addresses health and illness care for the elderly population, generally considered those over 75 years of age. Geriatric medicine encompasses the physical, psychosocial and emotional aspects of the whole person, including the family dynamics and interactions, as well as the degree of individual coping skills.