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This examination complements the work of a primary care physician in the same way that a patient with a heart problem consults with a cardiologist or a person with a hip problem sees an orthopedist. Unlike an orthopedist, however, we examine the entire patient rather than one organ or system. Elderly patients, particularly those with memory or cognition issues, present special medical challenges that our expertise can be very helpful in diagnosing and treating. An ElderConsult consultation integrates all the available information about a patient into a single, complete set of conclusions and recommendations. An elderly patient is often treated and assisted by a number of different doctors, who may communicate with one another infrequently, or not at all. In this situation, it is difficult for the family to develop an accurate understanding of the challenges the patient is facing, and their prognosis.
This is particularly important when thinking about quality-of-life or end-of-life issues. Without a comprehensive evaluation by a geriatric expert, a family that may be under tremendous emotional stress already must make difficult decisions without a clear sense of an elder’s condition, capabilities or prognosis. An ElderConsult report is specifically intended to provide this information, and present a set of care and treatment options for the family to consider.
Following the consultation, the ElderConsult physician will prepare a comprehensive report and set of recommendations, which will be provided both to the patient’s family or caregivers, and to the primary care physician. This will be sent with an introductory letter (click here) to the physician. The ElderConsult physician will also work to discuss the case directly with the primary MD.
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