Memory Care Clinic combats Alzheimer's, dementia

In most cases, according to Dr. Kevin Watt, a geriatric medicine physician, symptoms have been slowed.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the seventh-leading cause of death in the country. Treatment, which may include medication, is vital, particularly in the earliest stages of disease.

Memory Care Clinic provides assessment, treatment and prevention measures, serving not only affected patients but also their families.

The idea for the clinic came about when Watt became frustrated with not having adequate time to evaluate his patients for memory loss during their regular office visits.

“As a geriatrician, I really can’t do justice to an evaluation for dementia in a 15- or 30- minute time slot,” he said.

This frustration along with statistics about Alzheimer’s and other memory-related diseases prompted physicians at Doctors Hospital to start a multidisciplinary clinic aimed at treating and assessing patients.

“We need to get people in as early as possible and get the family involved as early as possible,” Watt said.

Primary care physicians at Doctors Hospital refer patients to the clinic for further evaluation by each member of the staff, which includes Dr. Ken Sharlin, neurologist; Dr. Bill Myers, neuropsychologist; Dr. Jeff Jenkins, geriatric psychiatrist; Carol Martin, social worker; and Paul Taylor, elder-care law attorney and CEO of Doctors Hospital.

After referral by a primary-care physician, patients and their families are assessed by social worker Martin, who receives the background information from the family and relays necessary information to the doctors.

The patient then undergoes testing to evaluate the extent of memory loss. Physical condition also is assessed at this stage.

Neuropsychologist Myers then completes a cognitive examination, and the clinic’s doctors meet to determine a treatment plan, which is discussed with patients and family members, along with recommendations and options for the future.

Practice coordinator Helen Quick, who helped establish Memory Care Clinic, said the program originally had a six-month term, but that has been shortened because it was too extensive for dementia patients.

Quick, who sets up referrals and appointments with specialists and serves as a contact person for patients’ families, expects demand for the clinic’s services to grow.

“Unfortunately, we are going to see more and more of (these patients),” she said.

Doctors Hospital of Springfield, 2828 N. National Ave., was founded in 2000 and is physician-owned. The 45-bed acute care facility is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Healthcare Facility Accreditation Program and has a medical staff of more than 80, including doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners.