New mobile site aids clinicians treating patients diagnosed with dementia
Developed by UCI Health geriatricians and Alzheimer’s Orange County
March 08, 2021
UCI Health geriatrician Steven Tam says the new website provides quick access to valuable information on dementia care for healthcare providers, patients and caregivers alike.
UCI Health gerontology specialists, in partnership with Alzheimer’s Orange County (AlzOC), have developed a new website for health practitioners to improve the care they provide to their patients diagnosed with dementia.
Healthcare professionals can easily access the mobile friendly website for the latest information to help better understand dementia, including behavior issues, communication, everyday care, respite care and safety.
The website is a component of the UCI Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program improves health outcomes for older adults by promoting the development of a healthcare workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement and integrates geriatrics into primary care.
Lisa M. Gibbs, MD, chief of the UCI School of Medicine's Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology and medical director of UCI Health’s premier SeniorHealth Center, serves as principal investigator.
Steven Tam, MD, a geriatric medicine specialist, is the lead UCI Health contact on the project. He worked with Kari Walker, former director of education at AlzOC, and her team.
“Our partnership with Alzheimer’s Orange County has been a successful one, not only for healthcare practitioners, but for the patients they serve as well as their caregivers,” said Tam.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of this important web site that is an outgrowth of a long-standing collaboration with UCI Health’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology,” said Jim McAleer, AlzOC CEO.
“We’re confident it will be a valuable tool for healthcare practitioners to use at the point of care.”
The UCI Health geriatric medicine program is regularly recognized among the top 50 in the country in annual best hospitals rankings by U.S. News & World Report, and the Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology has long been an advocate for improving the health of older adults.
The UCI Health SeniorHealth Center provides unmatched access to healthcare for older adults and was among the country’s first patient-centered medical homes for geriatric care and the Centers of Excellence in Elder Abuse.
About UCI Health: UCI Health comprises the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center, in Orange, California. The 418-bed acute care hospital provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, as well as American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and regional burn center. It is the primary teaching hospital for the UCI School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow UCI Health on Facebook and Twitter.
About Alzheimer’s Orange County
Alzheimer’s Orange County provides programs and services that span the continuum of care of Alzheimer’s and related forms of dementia to Orange County, California residents living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, including older adults and frail seniors, along with their families, caregivers, and the community. Alzheimer’s Orange County began as an independent 501c3 nonprofit in 1982 with a primary mission of providing care and support for those impacted with dementia and their caregivers in Orange County. Alzheimer’s is a devastating neurodegenerative illness that weakens the memory and other cognitive and emotional functions. For more information, call the Helpline at 1-844-HELP-ALZ, or visit www.alzoc.org. Find Alzheimer’s Orange County on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
