The Hong Kong Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1981, the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society (HKGS) is a non-profit professional society for geriatricians and other medical practitioners with an interest in medical care of older people. The society strives to represent the needs of its members and the Hong Kong society, older people in particular. It aims to review and improve the care of the older people in Hong Kong. Its major roles are in geriatric education and training, improving standards of geriatric medicine, geriatric research and making recommendations on government policy concerning older people. According to the report of the Hong Kong College of Physicians (May 2014 issue), geriatric medicine is the second largest specialty after Cardiology, with 180 fellows in geriatric medicine in Hong Kong. At present, there are around 250 members in the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society
The year 2021 celebrates the 40th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Geriatrics Society.
The mission of HKGS
1. To promote and develop the specialty of geriatric medicine in Hong Kong
2. To foster high standards of care in the practice of geriatric medicine
3. To promote training and care of older people to all professionals practicing geriatric medicine
4. To promote geriatric research
5. To recommend public and government on policies and issues concerning older people in Hong Kong
The vision of HKGS
Every older person in Hong Kong can receive high quality person-centred care with improved quality of life.
Action and strategies of HKGS to achieve mission and vision
1. PROFESSIONALISM
- Uphold the highest ethical standards, top class professional knowledge and quality clinical practice.
- Develop more champions and leaders in academia as well as in public office to promote the geriatric medicine.
2. RESEARCH
- Promotion of research, especially those with local relevance.
3. ADVOCACY
- Advocate every older person to receive high-quality, seamless and person-centred care.
4. INNOVATION
- Encourage development of geriatrician-led innovative models of care to older people.
- Engage in collaboration with other medical specialties, non-government organizations and the private sector.
5. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
- Development and enhancement of Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Through the SIG activities, Geriatricians continue to take the lead in service delivery, development of state-of-the-art practice, and research in the "geriatric giants"**.
6. EDUCATION
- To attract young doctors to join the discipline. Through teaching of undergraduates and junior medical staff at an early stage of their career, explicate to them that Geriatric Medicine is intellectually challenging, emotionally rewarding and collegially satisfying.
- Participate in the training of nurses, social workers and other allied health professionals.
7. SYNERGY
- Join forces with other professional and lay groups, forming strategic alliance and collaborating with the media to engage in social marketing to portray a positive image of ageing, create a public voice.
*
As in September, 2014
**
Geriatric Giants are the major disabilities that appear in older people, especially as they begin to fail. These include immobility, instability,
incontinence and
impaired intellect/memory, which have in common the qualities of multiple causation; chronic course, deprivation of independence; and no simple cure.