Public Health

Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and it is a growing problem, particularly in racial minorities where disparities exist in the detection and diagnosis of AD. New York City Health and Hospitals (H+H) is the largest municipal health system in the nation and serves a diverse patient population. Over the last two years, H+H has joined the effort for the early detection of AD, creating an algorithm for the detection and management of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in primary care, implementing a telemedicine cognitive geriatric program, and receiving Age-Friendly recognition at one of its largest facilities, Bellevue. We aim to expand this early detection initiative to H+H/ Woodhull as part of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness (DAC-SP) U.S. Early Detection Fellowship Program.

Using our experience and the DAC-SP Early Detection Blueprint, we will implement the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) at Woodhull Geriatrics Practice, then expand to those receiving care at the Adult Primary Care Practice. The AWV includes a brief cognitive screening tool (picture-based memory impairment screening PMIS) and a functional assessment performed by the nursing staff and reviewed by the Primary Care Provider (PCP). Notes, templates, and smart phrases are built into the electronic medical system.

H+H aims to screen 15% of the diverse population currently receiving care at Woodhull Geriatrics Practice. This population consists of 27.7% Black, 58.5% Hispanic, 3.5 % non-Hispanic White, and 1.7% Asian patients; 72% have Medicare, 12.4% Medicaid, and 12.1% are uninsured. We then plan to expand screening to a larger, but similarly diverse group of patients aged 65 and older receiving care in the Adult Primary Care Practice.

H+H is dedicated to early detection of AD and related dementias. Building on the success of our program at a major facility, we are ready to tackle new challenges in expanding this vital initiative to the racially and ethnically diverse patient population at Woodhull and other locations.