Nurse-Led Memory Clinic
Auspiced by: The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre
(An assessment and management service for people with memory & cognitive changes)
This new pilot study will trial a nurse-led memory clinic in order to explore the clinics potential as a model of early primary health care for augmenting dementia diagnosis and therapeutic interventions in collaboration with Dr Martin Morrissey (Older Persons Mental Health Service).
The Model
The clinic will offer a two-visit model and retain a primary health care focus by ensuring that General Practitioners remain part of the diagnostic process. Clients will either self-refer or be referred by health professionals for the first visit. Following the initial assessment, a personalised plan will be prepared for those with identified cognitive deficits.
The nurse-led memory clinic model aims to maintain the role of GPs and specialists while providing support in the time consuming aspects of assessment and referral, and providing an alternative avenue for individuals to access initial assessment.
Why are we running this trial?
This project has the potential to address the rapidly rising demand for dementia specialist services and increase the numbers of Tasmanians with an early dementia diagnosis. The evidence obtained from this trial will have national and international significance as all developed countries look for innovative workforce solutions to deliver services to the projected rising number of people with dementia (numbers more than doubling by 2030 in Australia). The evidence gathered will inform the development of an expanded scope role for nurses in dementia diagnosis, while highlighting future areas needing research in this model of diagnosis.
The benefits to people with dementia and their carers will include access to improved and timely diagnosis of dementia, enabling earlier linking to care and services with the resultant improved capacity to plan for care and avoid risky behaviour such as driving. The benefits to health care providers will include better support for GPs and specialists in diagnosis and management of a person with dementia, and a referral and management avenue for other health providers.
Funders
Funding for this innovative project has been awarded by the Mason Foundation (Judith Jane Mason & Harold Stannett Williams).
Research Team
The WDREC Nurse-Led Memory Clinic principal investigators are:
- Dr Christine Stirling
- Dr Martin Morrissey
- Hazel Ryan Nurse Practitioner Aged Care (Contact Person) hazel.ryan@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Steering Committee
- Professor James Vickers
- Professor Andrew Robinson
- Dr Christine Stirling
- Dr Martin Morrissey
- Dr Jane Tolman
- Dr David Dunbabin
- Dr Toby Croft
- Hazel Ryan Nurse Practitioner Aged Care
- Consumer Representative
- GPSouth