RITT Program

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Welcome!

Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training (RITT), a component of the VA Geriatric Scholars Program, is an interactive face-to-face workshop, focused on team-based care for older Veterans. Over the course of the day, participants will learn about keys to successful teamwork, common geriatrics conditions, 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 two training options, 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.  Both options are accredited for the disciplines of: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychology, Social work, Dietetics, and PT/OT by VA Employee Education System.

Click here to learn more about RITT.

NEW FOR RITT

  • RITT is expanding training opportunities to include a specialized curriculum for Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Teams.  The HBPC RITT Training has both full day and half day trainings accredited for 6.5 and 3.75 hours of CEU/CME respectfully.

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

  • Dementia Care Coordination Program is a new initiative of the RITT workshop.  The Dementia Care Coordinator provides support to caregivers of Veterans with dementia.  For more information, 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




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: Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 1:39 PM