UCSF Department Of Medicine | Division of Geriatrics

Dr. Helen Kao is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, and Medical Director of Geriatrics Clinical Programs at UCSF.

Helen completed both her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Geriatrics at UCSF. She is dedicated to working with vulnerable older adults in both her clinical practice and through her leadership in implementing health improvement change. She spearheaded the partnership between UCSF and Lifelong Medical Care, a community health organization, through which she provided primary care, house calls, nursing home and inpatient care, and hospice care through the Over 60 Health Center in Berkeley. While in Berkeley, she co-founded the Over 60 Bridge program to provide palliative care for patients with advanced illness who were not yet eligible or ready for hospice . Her rich experiences at the Over 60 Health Center inspired her current career focus on health systems improvement and development of innovative models of integrated care for older adults. She founded the Geriatrics Transitions, Consultation, and Comprehensive Care (GeriTraCCC) service in 2010 which, in collaboration with UCSF Medical Center and UC Home Health teams, has dramatically improved the well-being for frail older adults with congestive heart failure. She currently leads UCSF efforts to improve the care of older adults and expand access to geriatric care. Helen has been recognized with awards of distinction not only for her clinical care but also for her teaching and leadership.

Since 2007, Helen's clinical work has been based at the Over 60 Health Center, a geriatric low-income community health center in Berkeley. Her clinical work is grounded in providing primary care and housecalls to seniors, as well as following patients in the hospital and skilled nursing facilities. The Over 60 Health Center is one of the few primary care practices which cares for its patients throughout the continuum of care—in clinic, hospital, nursing facilities, at home and through end of life. Helen co-founded the Over 60 Bridge Service to provide greater interdisciplinary care for frail seniors with advanced chronic or terminal illness.

In 2010, Helen will be shifting her work back to San Francisco where she leads UCSF efforts to expand access to geriatric care. In launching the new Geriatric Transitions, Consultation, and Comprehensive Care (GeriTraCCC) practice at UCSF, she provides geriatric consultation, primary care, housecalls, and transitional care (care for patients newly discharged from the hospital). Helen’s passion is first, and foremost, direct patient care for vulnerable older adults.

Helen teaches geriatric medicine to learners of all levels and disciplinesboth in formal didactics and direct clinical preceptorships. In her precepting, she teaches communication skills, patient—centered care, how to work with teams and families, and how to utilize community resources based on patients' circumstances. She emphasizes a team approach to care with the patient, and patient's caregivers, at the center. To improve geriatric care in the community, Helen also regularly teaches providers in community practices outside of UCSF.

Beyond clinical education, Helen's scholarship also focuses on health systems improvement and development of innovative, sustainable models of integrated geriatric care.

Select publications

Kao H, Conant R, Soriano T, McCormick W, Boling P. House Calls. Editor: Boling P. Clinics in Geriatrics: Elsevier, 25: Feb 2009.
Kao H, Walter LC. Improvement of hospital care of elderly patients: thinking outside the (hospital) box: comment on "hospital at home for elderly patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure". Arch Intern Med. 169: 1576-7, Sep 28 2009.
Kao H, Thomas DC, Subramanian U, Chang A, Williams BC. The patient-centered medical home and care of older adults. SGIM Forum, Dec 2009:32(12):4,11.
Hsu A, Kao H. The clinical course of advanced dementia. N Engl J Med. 362: 363; author reply 364-5, Jan 28 2010.
Kao H, Landefeld CS. Improving primary care for elders: Challenge for the Aging Century: comment on "A Primary care practice redesign intervention improves quality of care for older patients with urinary incontinence and high risk of falls: a controlled trial". Arch Intern Med (in press).
Kao H. Geriatric Disorders. Editors: Tierney LM, Saint S, Whooley MA. Pocket Guide to the Essentials of Diagnosis & Treatment, 4th Edition: McGraw-Hill (in press).