Enhanced Skills Program: Care of the Elderly Cognition and Memory Rotation Goals and Objectives

By the end of the rotation, the resident will be able to:

Medical Expert

  • Effectively perform a comprehensive cognitive assessment including focused dementia history and use of validated tools to diagnose dementia syndromes.
  • Accurately formulate a working diagnosis and differential diagnosis consistent with current diagnostic criteria, including criteria for AD, VaD, mixed dementia, FTD, and DLB.
  • Develop an appropriate plan to enhance diagnostic clarity including ordering of laboratory tests and scans.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of treatment options.
  • Perform an appropriate focused physical exam relevant to the assessment of an individual with cognitive concerns.
  • Recognize the potential role of other health issues in the presentation of decreased cognitive performance in older adults and manages these factors appropriately.
  • Demonstrate appropriate understanding of pharmacotherapy for patients with dementia, including an understanding of the benefits, risks limitations and potential adverse effects of these medications.
  • Assess the needs of caregivers, including an assessment of potential abuse and caregiver stress.
  • Implement appropriate non-pharmacological interventions for patients with dementia.

 

Communicator

  • Develop rapport, trust and ethical therapeutic relationships with patients with dementia and their families. Skillfully recognizes and manages communication challenges with older patients with cognitive disorders.
  • Accurately elicit and synthesize information from and perspectives of patients and families.
  • Accurately convey needed information and explanations to patients and families.
  • Develops a common understanding of issues, problems and plans with patients and families and provides and follow-up on a shared plan of care.

 

Collaborator

  • Participate effectively and appropriately in an interprofessional healthcare team. Collaborate with community agencies (as required) and other professionals.

 

Leader

  • Allocate finite healthcare resources appropriately (i.e. referrals to other professionals, community resources)

 

Health Advocate

  • Respond to individual patient health needs and issues as part of patient care. Advocates for individual patients around relevant health matters.

 

Scholar

  • Maintain and enhances professional activities through ongoing self-directed learning based on reflective practice.
  • Critically evaluates medical information, its sources and its relevance to their practice, and applies this information to practice decisions.
  • Facilitate the education of patients, families, trainees and other health professional colleagues, and the public, as appropriate.

 

Professional

  • Demonstrate a commitment to their patients, profession, and society through ethical practice.