Welcome!

Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training (RITT), a component of the VA Geriatric Scholars Program, is an interactive face-to-face and/or virtual workshop, focused on team-based care for older Veterans. Over the course of the day, participants will learn about common geriatrics conditions, geriatric red flags prompting immediate action and assessment methods, including screening for cognitive impairment.  Each RITT training is co-facilitated by a clinician and an educator from GRECCs across the United States.

RITT is available for VA Hospitals,  VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Indian Health Service/Tribal clinic teams who primarily serve Veterans in rural communities.  There are a number of training options, including a full day of training, accredited for 6.5 hours of CEU/CME and a shorter, half-day of training accredited for 3.75 hours of CEU/CME.  There is also a specialized curriculum for Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) teams.  RITT workshops are accredited for the disciplines of:  Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychology, Social work, Dietetics, and OT by VA Employee Education System.

Click here to learn more about RITT.

NEW FOR RITT

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RITT is ONLY offering virtual trainings, accredited for 3.75 hours of CEU/CME. For more information, click here.

  • GRECC Dementia Education Program (D.E.P.) is a free service for caregivers of Veterans with dementia.  Through monthly webinars that teach the Whole Health approach to stress-reduction and self-care, GRECC D.E.P. seeks to help caregivers learn practical, evidence-based ways to reduce stress and promote caring for self.  GRECC D.E.P. also works together with the VA Caregiver Support Program to host seminars for VISN 2 staff to promote learning about dementia and caregiving.  To learn more, click here.

  • The RITT workshops are reinforced with follow-up webinars related to cognitive impairment and other topics presented during RITT.  Click here to view archived RITT webinars



U.S. Map showing RITT training locations from FY2011 to FY2022

Tools, Resources provided to host sites 

Due to availability some items are subject to change
  • VA Geriatric Scholars Program Toolkit
  • RITT Binder
  • AGS Beers Criteria ®
  • Geriatrics At Your Fingertips® (book published by AGS)
  • Sepulveda GRECC Pocket Guide to Geriatric Assessments
  • SLU GEMS Pocket Guide
  • Outpatient Team Huddle Worksheet and DVD
  • Geriatric Delirium, Dementia and Depression Assessment Guide
  • And many more
                               
Archived recordings of RITT webinars

2011 to 2019

From its conception in 2011 until the end of FY19, RITT has covered 37 out of 50 states and every VISN in the VA
  • 2,126 participants 
  • 175 VA clinics served 
  • 26 IHS Clinics/Tribal Health/Villages served

Contact Us

If you need more information or would like to host a training: 
Eve Gottesman 
James J. Peters VAMC
718-584-9000 x3813 
Or
Eugenia Dorisca 
James J. Peters VAMC
eugenia.dorisca@va.gov
718-584-9000 x3836
Last modified: Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 10:52 AM