Primary Care Memory Clinics: Improving the Care of Cognitively Impaired Patients within a Family Health Team

This slide presentation from the AFHTO 2010 conference reviews  the Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM) Family Health Team’s Memory Clinic, established in 2006 to address the challenges in caring for patients with cognitive difficulties. The CFFM Memory Clinic functions to enhance the care that family physicians can provide for patients at a primary care level. It ultimately aims to assist and empower the patient’s family physician in developing a greater degree of comfort and skill in managing patients with cognitive problems while maintaining a central role in patient care. The CFFM Memory Clinic ensures a balance of diagnostic accuracy and effective interventions with efficient, sustainable utilization of resources in a FHT.  A comprehensive, independent evaluation of all patients assessed in the CFFM Memory Clinic over 3 years has demonstrated high level of satisfaction from referring physicians, patients, caregivers, clinic team members, and geriatricians supporting the clinic.  In collaboration with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the CFFM FHT has developed an accredited, comprehensive 5-day training program for family physician-leads and inter-professional health care team members to develop the practical knowledge and skills required for optimal management of patients with cognitive impairment.  As of June 2010, 11 FHT Memory Clinics have been established throughout Ontario as a result of this training program. PRESENTER: Linda Lee FHT: The Centre for Family Medicine Click here to view.