Written by the Europe Region of GEMSIG on ICEM GEM precourse

The International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) has a strong commitment to advancing education in emergency medicine worldwide. Recognizing the growing need for specialized geriatric emergency care, the IFEM GEMSIG has integrated the European Taskforce on Geriatric Emergency Medicine (ETGEM) teaching program into its educational initiatives, providing an opportunity for emergency clinicians globally to enhance their skills in managing older adults in the emergency department (ED). ETGEM is a decade-standing collaboration between the GeriEM sections of the European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM) and the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS). The ETGEM ‘GeriEM bootcamp’ course (https://geriemeurope.eu/events/) is based on the European GeriEM curriculum (https://geriemeurope.eu/education/), and explores eight common presentations and situations through a person-centred lens.

Successful Implementation at ICEM Taiwan 2024

The Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) course was successfully conducted as a pre-conference workshop at the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in Taiwan in 2024. The course attracted a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals from across the globe and beyond, reinforcing the global need for structured education in GEM.

Feedback from participants highlighted the practical relevance of the course, the value of interdisciplinary discussions, and the impact of simulation-based learning in improving clinical competency. The Taiwan session also emphasized region-specific challenges, such as the integration of family-centered decision-making in geriatric care, making it a uniquely tailored learning experience.

Looking Ahead: ICEM Montreal 2025

Following the success of the Taiwan course, the GEM SIG is set to deliver the course again at ICEM 2025 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal session will build upon previous experiences, incorporating refinements based on participant feedback, including:

• Enhanced Simulation Scenarios: Addressing North American geriatric care models and region-specific ED challenges.
• Multidisciplinary Faculty Expansion: Engaging experts from emergency medicine, geriatrics, and allied health professions.

Why This Matters for IFEM?

IFEM’s commitment to global emergency medicine education aligns perfectly with the mission of this course. By providing GEM training opportunities within ICEM, IFEM:

• Strengthens its role in shaping the future of geriatric emergency care education.
• Enhances global collaboration by fostering shared learning experiences among emergency clinicians worldwide.
• Supports sustainable knowledge transfer by equipping participants with tools to implement GEM principles in their home countries.

The GEM teaching program’s inclusion in IFEM activities represents a significant step forward in addressing the unique challenges of caring for older patients in the ED. Following its success at ICEM Taiwan, its upcoming delivery in Montreal will further refine and expand this vital educational initiative, ensuring that emergency clinicians worldwide are better prepared to meet the needs of an aging population.

More information or to sign up to the course in Montreal

Contributors 

1. Jacinta Lucke (Netherlands) 
2. James van Oppen (UK)
3. Peter Heeren (Belgium)
4. Arjun Thaur (Australia) 
5. Áine Mitchel (Ireland) 
6. Bas de Groot  (Netherlands) 
7. Rosa McNamara  (Ireland)