Travelling doctor makes life easier for elderly patients
For some elderly people in our community, making the journey from residential care facilities to outpatient clinics can be difficult and burdensome – especially for those with mobility issues or who experience confusion from dementia.
Geriatrician Dr Margot Lodge is easing the stress for this group of patients by bringing medical care straight to them.
“The key benefit for the patient is that we can provide a comprehensive specialist assessment of their overall needs and develop a plan to address any health concerns,” Dr Lodge said.
Dr Lodge is part of a new program delivered by Alfred Health, focusing on providing geriatric and general medicine for older people in the community, rather than at the hospital. One of the goals is to increase the number of people receiving Advance Care Planning – to make sure family and healthcare teams know how the patient prefers to be treated when unwell or at end-of-life.
Patients include those who’ve recently been discharged from Caulfield or The Alfred, or new patients referred by a GP.
“These patients are the most vulnerable patients in our community and by taking the service to them we can assess and provide treatment for them in their own environment,” Dr Lodge said.
Dr Lodge will be working in conjunction with other staff from Alfred Health’s Mobile Assessment and Treatment Service who treat acutely unwell people in the community.
“Because it is a new program it’s exciting to see how it will develop and how we can best provide care for patients and optimise their quality of life.”
For more information please visit: https://www.alfredhealth.org.au/caulfield/services/hp/geriatric-general-medicine-in-older-people-clinic/
