Three in four Virginia residents (73%) say that it is important for communities to plan for serving residents as they age. Source: 2008 Older Dominion Project Residents' Study
Members/Partners
Member Profiles
Name: James R. (Jay) Holdren, II, MHA, L-NHA
Title: Administrative Director, Geriatric Services
Company/Organization: VCU Health System, House Calls/Transitional Care/Long-term Care/P.A.C.E. Partnership, VCU Partnership in Geriatric Education
ODP Member Since: March 1, 2009
ODP Committee Affiliation: Shared Database Research
Summarize your professional background relevant to Age Wave preparedness.
Jay Holdren received his Master of Health Administration degree in 2001 from Virginia Commonwealth University. His MHA residency was at a health system in greater Philadelphia, firmly devoted to serving the aging population with a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Assisted Living, Adult day care and various community-based programs.
Immediately after receiving his degree, Jay was licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator in the Commonwealth of Virginia and spent three years as Executive Director of a faith-based CCRC in the Roanoke Valley. After a family move back to Richmond, Jay took on his current role as administrator of VCU Health System’s Geriatric Services. This role encompasses administration of VCU’s wide-range of geriatric programs: Ambulatory Care, Inpatient Consults, House Calls, Transitional Care, Long-term Care and a P.A.C.E. partnership. In addition, he helps organize geriatric education, both within the VCU medical school, and in the community through VCU-sponsored conferences or similar events organized through the Virginia Geriatrics Society. Jay serves on the health system’s Eldercare Advisory Board, providing guidance to VCU’s on-site Adult Day Care as well as its Geriatric Care Management (GCM) human resources initiative. He is the administrative chair of the VCU House Calls Joint Commission oversight committee and is actively involved in the Hospital’s Medication Safety/Reconciliation committee, Fall Prevention committee and committees related to adoption of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). In 2008, Jay was included in a published research effort “Transitional Model of Care at VCU Medical Center - 6 Years’ Experience,” which was awarded the Presidential Poster award in the Models of Geriatric Care category by the American Geriatric Society and the Home Care poster of the year award by the American Academy of Home Care Physicians. His primary research interests include care transitions, health informatics, patient safety and dementia. Jay is also an active member of the Virginia Health Care Association and was appointed in January 2009 to serve as a member of its Education Committee for long-term care providers.
What expertise or other strengths do you bring to the Older Dominion Partnership?
One in five Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the hospital is readmitted within 30 days, and half of non-surgical patients are readmitted to the hospital without having seen an outpatient doctor for follow-up, according to recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (April 2009). VCU Geriatric Services is a national leader in managing the risk factors and care delivery that lead to these often avoidable circumstances.
What do you believe are the most pressing issues in Age Wave-preparedness in Virginia today?
Access to appropriately-trained geriatric primary caregivers is a major issue. As we examine payment reform, we must provide incentives to PCPs to serve the highest-cost Medicare beneficiaries using proven home-based chronic care management programs. This will lead to tremendous cost savings and improved outcomes, all while strengthening the nation’s primary care system and satisfying the consumer.
What advice do you have for age wave planning in Virginia?
Today’s political climate has put health care reform in the national spotlight. Cost control is the driver and the time to act is now. The ultimate winner will be health policy that rewards systemic integration and care coordination, which are proven to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and readmissions. A focus on that end goal is crucial.