Meet the West Health Accelerator Team: Sarah Rastegar, PA
Sarah Rastegar is a physician assistant in hospital medicine on the Faulkner Advanced Clinician Team (FACT) service at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital.
Sarah was drawn to become a West Health Champion because of the many unique aspects to caring for older patients that she enjoys.
Q&A
Why are you passionate about caring for older adults?
Sarah Rastegar: Even before becoming a physician assistant, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in clinical research with gerontologists and neurologists, helping to research conditions like Alzheimer's disease and delirium. That really set off my whole career path and my passion for working with older adults. I enjoy learning about our older participants and their lives, and working alongside their families and caregivers to provide support as they navigate changing identities and responsibilities. I also found myself drawn to working with older patients because of the multi-disciplinary, big-picture approach that's needed to provide them the best care for their complex medical needs
What’s one small change that can make a big difference in the care of older adults?
SR: I think one thing that makes a big difference is when clinicians take a moment from their busy day to learn a bit about the older patient’s life outside of the hospital, such as what their home environment looks like, what type of supports they use in the home and what is important to them. I think this not only goes a long way in terms of building trust but also helps that patient navigate their acute illness and helps them to transition back into the world after discharge.
What do you hope to achieve in the West Health Champions program?
SR: I hope to further develop my ability to advocate for and improve the care of older adults in the hospital setting. As a PA working in direct clinical care, I feel I am in a unique position to identify and promote best practices for the care of older patients, given that I interface directly with all members of the care team within the hospital. I also look forward to expanding my skills in quality improvement.