title: Primary Care-Based Memory Clinics: Expanding Capacity for Dementia Care.
abstract: The implementation in Ontario of 15 primary-care-based interprofessional memory clinics represented a unique model of team-based case management aimed at increasing capacity for dementia care at the primary-care level. Each clinic tracked referrals; in a subset of clinics, charts were audited by geriatricians, clinic members were interviewed, and patients, caregivers, and referring physicians completed satisfaction surveys. Across all clinics, 582 patients were assessed, and 8.9 per cent were referred to a specialist. Patients and caregivers were very satisfied with the care received, as were referring family physicians, who reported increased capacity to manage dementia. Geriatricians' chart audits revealed a high level of agreement with diagnosis and management. This study demonstrated acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of the primary-care memory clinic model. Led by specially trained family physicians, it provided timely access to high-quality collaborative dementia care, impacting health service utilization by more-efficient use of scarce geriatric specialist resources.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Specialized Geriatric Services,St. Joseph's Health Care London.
authors.forename: Loretta M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Aging and School of Public Health and Health Systems,University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.affiliation: McMaster University,Department of Geriatric Medicine.
authors.forename: Micheline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.affiliation: Aging,Rehabilitation & Geriatric Care Research Centre of the Lawson Health Research Institute.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Borrie
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Aging and School of Public Health and Health Systems,University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stolee
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017028:Caregivers; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care