Monash Health’s Delirium and Dementia Initiative provides a framework for improved care of patients with dementia and delirium, including screening, diagnosis, management, follow-up and education for patients, families and employees.
In the lead up to World Delirium Awareness Day on Wednesday, 17 March we wanted to provide you with an update on some of the recent improvements as part of our Delirium and Dementia Initiative.
Employee Training
A new and updated Delirium and Dementia e-module, ‘Delirium: Suspect it, Spot it, Stop it’, is available via Latte for clinicians. The module only takes 15-20 minutes to complete and will be featured under ‘My Required Learning’ on your LATTE dashboard. Log in to Latte and complete your training today.
In addition, education sessions have been presented across the organisation both face-to-face and via Webex. In 2021, sessions have already commenced with dates for JMS, SMS, nursing and allied health now confirmed. For more information about these sessions, contact Brianna Walpole, Cognition Clinical Lead, brianna.walpole@monashhealth.org.
New and revised Prompt Documents
The new and revised Prompt documents will provide employees with access to contemporary clinical guidelines and patient and carer information. They include:
- Revised and merged Dementia in Hospital and Delirium in Hospital into a single document:
- Revised (patient friendly, pictorial) Delirium and Dementia Patient Information leaflets:
- Contributing to the Acute Behavioural Disturbance revision E(Mental Health)
- Authored COVID-19 Inpatient Assessment clinical guidelines section on Delirium assessment and management
EMR improvements
Improved pathways in our EMR enhance clinical practice by bringing routine cognitive assessment and management into comprehensive clinical care. Cognition will be assessed, investigated and managed in an integrated pathway.
To achieve this, improvements in EMR flow now includes:
- 4AT screening tool is required as part of the admission risk assessment for all inpatients >18 years
- Initial 4AT to be completed within 8 hours of admission
- 4AT score >4 triggers initiation of a Cognition Care Plan
- 4AT score >4 adds ‘At Risk of Delirium’ to Problem List
For more information and resources, visit the Delirium and Dementia Intranet page or contact Brianna Walpole, Cognition Clinical Lead, brianna.walpole@monashhealth.org
Approved by Katrina Nankervis, Executive Director, Residential and Support Services
