Mobile memory clinic: implementing a nurse practitioner-led, collaborative dementia model of care within general practice
Dimity Pond
A G , Isabel Higgins B , Karen Mate C , Helga Merl D , Dianne Mills E and Karen McNeil F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Medicine and Public Health, Office 134, The Building and Investment Centre of Excellence, University of Newcastle, 10 Chittaway Road, Ourimbah, NSW 2258, Australia.
B School of Nursing and Midwifery, RW227, Richardson Wing, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
C School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, LS350, Life Sciences Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
D Hunter New England Local Health District and Hunter Medicare Local. Present address: Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Room B128, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
E Aged Care and Rehabilitation Services (LMNCS), Hunter New England Health District, Building 2, Level 1, 26 York Street, Taree, NSW 2430, Australia.
F School of Medicine and Public Health, Office 134, The Building and Investment Centre of Excellence, University of Newcastle, 10 Chittaway Road, Ourimbah, NSW 2258, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: Dimity.Pond@newcastle.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(1) 6-12 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20118
Submitted: 14 May 2020 Accepted: 16 October 2020 Published: 1 February 2021
Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC
Abstract
The limited capacity of secondary health services to address the increasing prevalence of dementia within the community draws attention to the need for an enhanced role for nurses working collaboratively with GPs in diagnosing and coordinating post-diagnostic care for patients with dementia. This study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a nurse practitioner-led mobile memory clinic that was embedded within general practice and targeted to caring for patients and their carers in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage with poor access to specialist health services. Over the period from mid-2013 to mid-2014, 40 GPs referred 102 patients, with the nurse practitioner conducting assessments with 77 of these patients in their homes. Overall, there was a strong interest in this model of care by general practice staff, with the assessment and care provided by the nurse practitioner evaluated as highly acceptable by both patients and their carers. Nonetheless, there are financial and structural impediments to this model of care being implemented within the current Australian health service framework, necessitating further research investigating its cost-effectiveness and efficacy.
Keywords: dementia, GPs, home-based assessment, multidisciplinary care, nurse practitioners.
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