This resource, produced by Sally Donaghey, East of England Strategic Clinical Network, lists the top 10 quick and easy tools for positive dementia commissioning.
- GP Coding Tool—Step by step guidance and all the information you need to undertake a coding clean-up exercise. Average time needed—4.7 hours. Average increase in diagnosis rates—8.8%. http://dementiapartnerships.com/ resource/dementia-coding-clean-up-exercise/ and http://dementiapartnerships.com/resource/guidance-on-dementia- coding/
- Dementia Prevalence Calculator (DPC) v3—new version just launched. GP practice, CCG, area and regional information. QOF data from 2012-13 and update due. Easy-to-run reports for analysis. Register and access at: https://www.primarycare.nhs.uk/register.aspx
- NHS England quarterly statistics on acute care assessment and referral to MAS. For evaluation and analysis on referral rates, admission and to inform acute care dementia CQUINS. http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work- areas/dementia/
- Health Fabric app—integrated, patient led care planning, information, and medicines data—and much more. For multi- agency use, families and carers, and personal management. Data links with EMIS and SystmOne. Patient version free. Practice costs: installation approx. £500; license costs up to £3.50 pp/pm. Webinars, demonstrations and further information from http://www.healthfabric.co.uk/ and bains@healthfabric.co.uk
- Risk management approaches and prompts. Patients with CVD, hypertension; history of TIA/stroke; diabetes; patients with neurological conditions or learning disability conditions that predispose to high levels of dementia e.g. Parkinsons, MND, Downs; the over 75’s – target with a prompted query re memory concerns (Gnosall model).
- Care homes – use DPC v3 for indicative figures for people with dementia in residential care (substantially higher preva- lence than general population). Targeted review and assessment visits, to obtain diagnosis and enable advanced care planning.
- Medicines review of anticholinesterase inhibitors (ACI)—with minor exceptions, only used for dementia. Ability to audit ACI and identify patients who do not yet have a diagnosis. Contact SCN for further details.
- Awareness and engagement of GP practices and staff regarding dementia and post diagnostic support available— practice use of the Alzheimers Society—”The Dementia Guide”, and local helpline numbers as a standard tool. Down- load or order copies: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=2239
- Direct Enhanced Services (DES) – review of who is doing well in the DES – and understanding their approaches to share good practice.
- Are your CCG and GP practices dementia friendly? Free Dementia Friends training available from Alzheimers Society. Awareness, understanding, and useful information. Also easy online training tools for practice, care home and domicili- ary staff. Make every contact with someone who has, or may have dementia, and their carers, an effective, positive, informed one. http://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/ and http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/dementia/