About the WAI Clinic Network
Bringing early diagnosis and memory care to more corners of Wisconsin
A major program of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute is the development of memory clinics throughout Wisconsin. The program assists communities, physicians and health care organizations in developing and sustaining multidisciplinary diagnostic services that promote early diagnosis and treatment, as well as support for caregivers. These memory clinics are known as affiliated dementia diagnostic clinics and are members of the WAI-Affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network (Clinic Network).
Affiliated clinics follow a set of best practice guidelines that include use of an interdisciplinary care model that minimally has a physician and preferably a neuropsychologist and a social worker; or other team members trained to complete the functions of the evaluation.
The Clinic Network has 40 affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinics, including clinics in Milwaukee serving African-American and Latino communities. These diverse, state-wide diagnostic clinics provide quality care to more than 3,000 new patients annually, many from rural, often under-served parts of Wisconsin.
Benefits of Clinic Network Affiliation
There are no fees or dues to be a network affiliate. Members of the network receive training, networking opportunities, and resource and referral assistance.
Further benefits of affiliation
When surveyed, Clinic Network members often indicate several benefits from being affiliated with the WAI-Affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network, including:
- Networking opportunities with more than 200 members consisting of physicians, psychologists, social workers, therapists, and other health care providers
- Professional educational resources and opportunities, including annual conference, most difficult case conferences, and bi-annual network meetings
- Assistance with standard dementia care practices, clinical services, clinic flow, team composition, budgets, and general operations
- Clinical consultation assistance, resource and referral assistance, clinic listing on WAI website
- Ability to shape the standardization of care and best practices. And opportunity to provide input on the activities pursued by the WAI
- Participation in data collection for a larger common voice to express unmet needs of patients and their families. Opportunities to engage in research and to learn about cutting-edge advances in dementia care
Clinic Development
One of the WAI Clinic Network Manager’s primary roles is to meet with interested parties to discuss their communities’ needs and to assist with the development of a dementia diagnostic clinic if it is indicated. The Network Manager can assist throughout all development phases, with the goal of a successful clinic launch and sustainability.
In addition to clinic start-up assistance, the WAI team provides:
- Individual clinic data collection analysis
- Guidance with the maintenance of clinic operations
- Assistance regarding standard dementia care practices, clinical services, clinic flow, team composition, budgets, and general operations
- Education and training on dementia diagnosis, management, and safety
- Clinical consultation assistance
- Facilitation of networking and connectivity among network members
- Resource and referral assistance
- Insights to research advances and best practices
- Guidance on quality models of care
Network training and events
WAI-Affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network events are part of a larger education and training plan developed and continually revised based on input from network members. The network’s primary educational events include:
The Annual Update in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, bi-annual network meetings and trainings, Building Applied Skills in Dementia Care, Core Skills trainings for health care providers.
Why diagnose dementia?
Benefits of early diagnosis
Dementia is a general term used to describe thinking and memory issues severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Others conditions can cause dementia as well, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Lewy body disease, and stroke.
When to seek help
Many people may consider memory changes an unavoidable part of aging or unnecessary to diagnose because “nothing can be done.” This is not true. At WAI, we know some things can be done.
Get in touch
Jody Krainer, MBA, LSCW, is manager of the WAI Clinic Network. To find details about how to attend a network training or become an affiliated-clinic, email her or look for network event details on our events calendar.