Alzheimer's Association Calls Kaiser Permanente Dementia Care Program a 'Model for Nation's Health Care System'Alzheimer's Association Seven-year collaboration sets health care standards for growing dementia population The managed care industry's first program designed specifically to address the special needs of those with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias was introduced today by Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest non-profit health maintenance organization. Richard Della Penna, M.D., director of Kaiser Permanente's Aging Network, presented the results of a multi-year collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association at its national board meeting last week. According to both organizations, the collaboration sets a standard for cooperation between managed care plans and patient advocates to improve care.  "The Kaiser Permanente dementia care program is a 21st century model for the nation's health care system," said Sheldon Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "This exhaustive collaboration underscores the growing realization within the field that we face an epidemic that will require an unprecedented marshalling of combined resources. The Alzheimer's Association is committed to leading that charge." The collaboration is the result of both Kaiser Permanente and the Alzheimer's Association recognizing that most people with Alzheimer's and other dementias are not receiving appropriate care, from proper diagnosis and treatment, to information about their condition and referrals to vital community services. The new program provides recommendations to primary care providers, nurses and social workers on the proper screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia patients. It also recommends ways to support families. The program includes evidence-based guidelines, as well as a model of care, practical tools and other resources. The program was developed by Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute (KP-CMI), which is sharing this and other programs it has developed with community organizations as part of its social mission. "As a non-profit health care system, Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the health care of the communities we serve," says Paul Wallace, M.D., KP-CMI Executive Director. "More broadly, Kaiser Permanente's mission and history reflect our desire to advance the science of medicine and to improve health care quality nationally and internationally. KP-CMI's work, grounded in evidence-based medicine and leveraging the intellectual capital and experience of the Permanente Medical Groups and the Health Plan/Hospitals, can further the organization's mission and values when shared with the community at large." "The Alzheimer's Association recommends that all health care systems and medical and social service professionals review the KP-CMI Dementia Care Program and adopt the recommendations to ensure that those caring for individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias understand their special health needs and are able to improve standards related to their care," Goldberg said. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 880,000 adults over age 65 (68,000 of those are over age 85) and estimates the number of members with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias who will benefit from this program could be as high as 85,000. According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are currently 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease and another 19 million family members affected by its devastation. Aging baby boomers could increase that number to more than 14 million by mid-century. "There is a tremendous need for those of us in medicine to partner with people in the community to address the needs of this vulnerable population suffering from Alzheimer's and other dementias," says Dr. Della Penna of the KP Aging Network (KPAN). Dr. Della Penna helped direct the development of the dementia care program. KPAN is the central source within Kaiser Permanente for informing elder care/Medicare strategy. Over the past seven years, Alzheimer's Association chapters around the nation worked with Kaiser Permanente to improve the care that the integrated health care system provides to its enrollees with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Association chapters in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Denver, Hawaii, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Albany and Washington D.C. participated in studies that included evaluating medical care and identifying community support services. The end product provides health care professionals with the care information necessary to improve the state of Alzheimer and dementia care for millions. The KP-CMI program contains guidelines and recommendations on how dementia care should be provided to Kaiser enrollees. The new program is an informational resource only and is not a substitute for clinical judgment based on the individual needs of patients. The program includes:
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health care organization. Founded in 1945, it is a non-profit, group-practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 8.4 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute drives, funds and catalyzes evidence-based disease management activities throughout Kaiser Permanente. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 127,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and about 11,000 physicians representing all specialties. The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, the association offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private funder of Alzheimer research in the United States, the association has committed $136 million toward research into the disease.
For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org |
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