Physician, Geriatrician Works with Tribal and Urban Indian Health Programs
An unwavering commitment to improving healthcare and a champion for the well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Dr. Bruce Finke has dedicated a quarter-century as a family physician and geriatrician with the Indian Health Service.
As a member of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Grant Program technical assistance team, Dr. Finke collaborates with grant recipients to bridge clinical and community-based services. This plays a vital role in their efforts to assist IHS in creating a balanced approach to caring for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
“I worked for 12 years on the Pueblo of Zuni, providing full range primary care and collaborating with Tribal programs to enhance care and services for the elderly there. I have been a part of the Nashville Area IHS since 2003 and worked nationally as part of the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS) and the Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS) to enhance and improve the care of the elderly,” said Finke. “I represent the IHS on the HHS Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services and serve as a clinical consultant to the IHS Alzheimer's Grants Program.”
From his experience, Dr. Finke strongly believes that specialized consultations from neurology, geriatrics, and geriatric psychiatry, along with cognitive testing, are important resources to strengthen the primary care team. However, he reminds us that it’s essential for the primary care team to have the capability to identify, diagnose, and manage care.
“This is true because access to those specialty resources is often challenging and sometimes involves costly travel for those we care for because in the primary care setting, we have better access to the supportive services in the community that can help the person living with dementia and their caregiver, and because diagnosis of dementia and really good care require the kind of long-term relationship that is only available through primary care.”
Dr. Finke is excited about working with grantee recipients as they build their care models for those living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
IHS training and technical assistance, available to any I/T/U primary care clinical staff, includes:
- Training and education on dementia and clinical care for older adults
- Consultation on the clinical aspects of program development
- Help connecting community-based services and clinical care
For more information, contact ihselderhealth@ihs.gov or visit the program training page.
