An assessment of cognitive impairment will be a mandatory part of the annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries beginning January 2011, as part of passage of comprehensive health care reform legislation known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

In October 2007, IDND launched the RAPID-PC tools – Recognizing and Assessing the Progression of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Primary Care with a summit meeting for researchers, clinicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to share experiences and progress.

RAPID-PC TOOLS

Highlights and enhancements include:

·         Easy-to-use graphical interface specifically designed for users with little to no experience in clinical software applications.

·         Capability to populate electronic needs assessments via scanning of paper-based Teleforms.

·         Graphical overlays of paper-based need assessment processes (i.e. the Healthy Aging Brain Monitor) allowing one-click visual identification of a patient’s biopsychosocial trends and changes over time.

·         Extensive tracking system logging all contacts between patient, staff, and clinicians.

·         A computerized individualized decision support system that, when triggered by needs assessment, activates the appropriate treatment protocols and algorithms.

Indiana Long Term Care Convention & Expo:

"Spotlight on Long Term Care"

The Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA) invites you to participate in the Indiana Long Term Care Convention & Expo being held April 24-26, 2012. Those interested in speaking at the convention must complete an application form and return it to Katy Quigley at the Indiana Health Care Assocation.