Quality Improvement in Neurology: Dementia Management Quality Measurement Set Update.

Abstract

Dementia is a neurologic condition manifested by a substantial decline in multiple cognitive abilities that collectively render a person unable to function at expected levels and progressively impede independent ability to perform everyday activities. For decades, public health officials have warned of the coming tsunami of Alzheimer disease (AD), and dementia has even been characterized as the dominant scourge of modern times, replacing cancer.1 Recently, hopeful signs have appeared, including reports from some longitudinal research studies that incidence of dementia is declining,2 and from the federal government that research funding for AD and other dementias will approach $1 billion USD in 2017.3 The authors thank all the Dementia Management Update Quality Measurement Set Work Group members for their dedication, time, energy, contributions and work that supported the development of this manuscript: Amy E. Sanders, MD, MS, FAAN (American Academy of Neurology); Robert Roca, MD (American Psychiatric Association); Piero Antuono, MD (American Academy of Neurology); Kelly Sullivan, PhD (American Academy of Neurology); Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DFAPA (American Psychiatric Association); Donovan Maust, MD, MS (American Psychiatric Association); Michael Lubin, MD, MACP (American College of Physicians); Sam Fazio, PhD (Alzheimer's Association); Ann Knutson (Alzheimer's Association); Robert O'Keefe, MA (Alzheimer's Association); Eric Tangalos, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD (AMDA–The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine); Glenn Smith, PhD (American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology and American Psychological Association); Brian Unwin, MD, FAAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians); Joseph Shega, MD (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine); Dale Strasser, MD (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation); Michele Grigaitis, DNP, FNP-BC, CNRN (American Association of Neuroscience Nurses); Jerry Johnson, MD (American Geriatric Society); Mary Kathleen Owens, RN MSN, C-NE, RAC-CT (American Health Care Association and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association); Catherine Piersol, PhD, OTR, FAOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association); Lise McCarthy, PT, DPT, GCS (American Physical Therapy Association); Kathleen Welsh-Bohmer, PhD, ABPP (American Psychological Association); David Webster, MD, MBA (Humana); James Galvin, MD, MPH, FANA (Lewy Body Dementia Association); Daniel Marson, PhD, JD (National Academy of Neuropsychology); Richard Fortinsky, PhD (The Gerontological Society of America); Marsden McGuire, MD (Veteran's Affairs); John Absher, MD (American Academy of Neurology Facilitator); James Nininger, MD (American Psychiatric Association Facilitator); Amy Bennett, JD (American Academy of Neurology Staff); Gina Gjorvad (American Academy of Neurology Staff); Erin Hagen (American Academy of Neurology Staff); Becky Schierman, MPH (American Academy of Neurology Staff); Samantha Shugarman, MS (American Psychiatric Association Staff); and Kristin Kroeger (American Psychiatric Association Staff). The authors also thank Jean O'Keefe for participation and the individuals and organizations who offered public comments.