Published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Here is a link to the article.
Regenstrief Institute authors: Nicole Fowler, PhD, MHSA.
A national survey of U.S. primary care practices has revealed considerable variation in preparedness to care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Conducted across 3,498 practices between 2022 and 2023, the survey captured data on core care delivery systems and protocols for dementia-related services.
The results show that 67% of practices have systems in place to detect patients at risk for ADRD, and 75% are equipped to refer patients for diagnostic evaluation. However, only 45%–46% of practices require formal training for staff on critical aspects of dementia care, such as identifying signs of neglect or incorporating caregivers into care decisions. Just 29% of practices maintain a registry to track patients with ADRD, indicating limited infrastructure for proactive care management.
Preparedness levels varied by practice type. Smaller practices, those with stronger financial standing, and those receiving a higher percentage of revenue from Medicare tended to report higher levels of ADRD care capabilities. Practices owned by physician groups were among the most prepared. In contrast, preparedness was generally lower among Federally Qualified Health Centers.
The study found that practices with more robust ADRD preparedness also demonstrated more developed care processes in areas such as care planning, patient follow-up and clinical decision support. These findings suggest that strengthening ADRD capabilities may be linked to overall practice infrastructure.
Improving the capacity of primary care to provide timely and comprehensive dementia care should be a strategic focus. Direct investment in training, systems and tools will support earlier detection, improve diagnosis and enhance patient and caregiver support across the care journey.
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