Medical Care

We Specialize in the Treatment of Older Adults as Individuals by Providing Insight and Management Strategies to Maintain Optimal Health and Function.

Complex and Frail Geriatrics

Often our patients’ conditions and needs are complex. Often there are overlapping conditions and each one of which may be difficult to treat. Many patients have complicated health histories and are typically taking an array of medications…some of which may or may not be appropriate. Only through evaluating each person as a “comprehensive whole individual” is it possible to identify what is needed for proper care and how to develop an individualized Care Plan

Medical Director:

    Our Medical care is under the direction of a Medical Director provided by Austin Geriatric Specialists.

    - Supervising the physicians from the community who take care of patients

    - Leading the care team (nurses, therapists, pharmacists, etc.)

    - Promoting quality of care through clinical practices

    - Advocating for residents' rights 

  Attending physicians services are provided by:   

    - Austin Geriatric Specialists

    Community Based Physicians

           Physicians who apply for and have been granted priveleges at Hearthstone Health Center are available to attend their patients in the facility.   

 Advanced Practice Nurses 

          The Advanced Practice Nurses of Austin Geriatric Specialists are on site Monday through Friday. They work in collaboration with Austin Geriatric Specialists' physicians and the community based physicians to provide timely direct patient care.

Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM)
Physicians lead and guide an Interdisciplinary Teams of professionals, including  Physician, (board certified), an Advance Practice Nurse; an RN; Case Manager; Rehabilitation team; Social Worker; Health Center Administrator; Admission Coordinator; and Behavioral Health consultant. Families can meet with the Interdisciplinary Team, and they can meet with the Rehabilitation Team. The purpose of the Interdisciplinary Team is to discuss individual patient care, to problem solve, and to develop and implement Care Plans to achieve the best results for our patients. Effective communication helps family members and patients understand their medical condition and available options.

Teamwork is a constant in the care provided by the Asista Family of Health Centers and Austin Geriatric Specialists.

Austin Geriatric Specialists

“The term “older adults” may define an age category but to the physicians of Austin Geriatric Specialists, it does not define who people are. Every patient/customer that we see has individual concerns and goals for themselves through the treatment and care they are about to experience.”

• We are Board Certified, Internists and Geriatricians. Our practice includes advanced practice nurses who are trained and certified in Geriatrics.

Peggy M. Russell, D.O., CMD, FACP
Dr. Peggy  Russell has been practicing Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Austin since 1984. She is dedicated to helping each of her patients achieve their highest level of well-being.

Dr. Russell works throughout the local, state and national medical community to improve health care, especially for the complex older individual. Dr. Russell serves as the Medical Director and leads a team of physician specialists who are all Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine.

Organizations:
• Past President of the Travis County Medical Society
• Past President of the Texas Medical Director’s Association
• Recipient of Jack Sayres Weinblatt Award 2004
• Recipient of TexPEC Championship Award 2005

Liam Fry, M.D.
Dr. Liam Fry was born and raised in Dallas. She attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate school and received a B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program. After college, she attended Oxford University in England and studied theology and Irish Literature before starting Medical School in Dallas.

Dr. Fry graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 2002, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency in New York City at Mount Sinai Medical Center. After completing her residency, she completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii. After her fellowship, she and her husband moved back to Austin where she has served as a physician with Austin Geriatric Specialists since 2006.