Integrated Memory Care
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About IMC
Primary Care Customized for Patients with Dementia and the People Who Care About Them
Dementia isn’t like other diseases. It brings unique challenges and specific needs for the whole family, not just the person living with dementia. These broader needs aren’t always met by traditional healthcare practices.
IMC Programs
Integrated Memory Care (IMC) remains the only primary care practice in the U.S. specifically made for people living with dementia and their care partners. The model helps families navigate the long road of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration, Lewy body disease, cerebrovascular disease, and other causes.
Care in the Community
IMC is the first program of its kind in the nation, and its model is now available in select senior living communities in the Atlanta area. For a monthly fee, residents living with dementia are served by our unique care model; primary and dementia care delivered right where they live.
Care in the Clinic
The IMC Clinic is a unique primary care practice created with input from family caregivers. Patients and their family care partners can geriatric primary care, dementia care, and caregiver support and education at one location. Whether the person has a cold, medication management, or is experiencing dementia behaviors, specialized nurse practitioners will diagnose and treat with the goal of avoiding emergency department and hospital visits.
GUIDE Information
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center launched the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. The GUIDE Model will test a new payment approach for key supportive services furnished to people living with dementia.
Care in the Community
IMC is the first program of its kind in the nation, and its model is now available in select senior living communities in the Atlanta area.
Supporting Our Community
The Community program provides the following:
- Appointments with a nurse practitioner conducted at senior living community
- Weekly sessions with a dementia care assistant
- Care partners access to support, education, and counseling
- Care coordination and navigation
Active Communities
For a monthly fee, residents living with dementia are served by our unique care model; primary and dementia care delivered right where they live. Community participants also benefit from the expertise of a Dementia Care Assistant who works with them weekly in one-on-one activities created just for them.
Eligibility
Before establishing care in the IMC, patients must have a diagnosis of a type of dementia. Potential patients must live in a participating senior living community and be willing to change primary care providers. Medical records may be needed to determine eligibility.
If you are interested, complete the Interest Form and we will contact you.
To learn more about our treatments and services, please visit Emory Healthcare.
- Arbor Terrace Crabapple
- Arbor Terrace of South Forsyth
- The Retreat at Decatur
- Canterbury Court
- Holbrook Decatur
- King's Bridge
- Lenbrook
- Orchard at Brookhaven
- Park Springs
- Sunrise of Buckhead
- Terraces at Peachtree Hills Place
- The Corso Atlanta
- The Georgian Lakeside
- The Solana of East Cobb
- Village Park of Alpharetta
- Village Park of Milton
Care in the Clinic
Primary Care Customized for Patients with Dementia
The IMC Clinic is a unique primary care practice created with input from family caregivers. Patients and their family care partners can receive multiple services at one location.
A True Team Approach
Most importantly, at IMC, family members are an important part of our model. Unlike other care models, family is involved at every step of the journey.
About our Program
The team of expert providers offers the following services:
- Preventive care, like immunizations
- Treatment for acute issues, like rashes or infections
- Monitoring and treating chronic conditions, like high blood pressure
- Support for managing behaviors related to dementia
- Care partner-only visits with nurse practitioners, as needed
- Planning for future care needs and decisions
- Cognitive assessments to evaluate current dementia stage
- Care coordination and navigation
- Support, education, and counseling
- After-hours line for established patients with urgent issues
- Referrals to specialists, as needed
Before establishing care in the IMC, patients must have a diagnosis of a type of dementia. Medical records may be needed to determine eligibility.
Integrated Memory Care clinic serves patients in specific zip codes within these metro Atlanta counties: Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Fayette County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Henry County, and Rockdale County.
GUIDE
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center launched the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model. The GUIDE Model will test a new payment approach for key supportive services furnished to people living with dementia.
- GUIDE is not a practice, but a Medicare benefit now available to patients within the IMC practice. Most of the GUIDE elements have been offered to IMC patients since the practice opened in 2015.
- To be eligible for GUIDE at the IMC, patients must have a dementia diagnosis, be a traditional Medicare beneficiary, and live within qualifying ZIP codes.
- Patients who are interested and who qualify for GUIDE will be consented during a GUIDE enrollment visit. Enrolled patients and caregivers agree to a home visit to assess for additional needs and to monthly contact with the IMC team.
- In addition to receiving the comprehensive dementia services the IMC provides, GUIDE participants may reduce their out-of-pocket insurance costs and may receive respite benefits, if eligible.
To leave a message for our GUIDE intake team, please call 404-712-6929 or email imc.guide@emory.edu.
Meet the Team
The IMC Care Team is different from traditional models.
Patients’ care is managed by nurse practitioners who have advanced training and specialization in dementia, geriatrics, and palliative care. Those nurse practitioners collaborate with our geriatricians and neurologists regularly. IMC’s dementia care assistants provide regular connections with patients, families, and facility staff. Our clinical social workers are key team members, ensuring that both patients and their families are supported throughout the process.
The IMC team is a part of Emory Healthcare, the most extensive health care system in Georgia and home to the Emory Brain Health Center and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center.
Practitioners & Providers
Nurse Practitioner
Meredith specializes in geriatrics and dementia care. She sees residents within IMC in Community. She is a dually certified Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, who provides both medical and behavioral health care services.
Nurse Practitioner
Amy is a board-certified gerontological nurse practitioner. She is experienced in both primary and dementia care and sees patients in the IMC in Community program.
Provider
Sara is a provider and a health services researcher focusing on interhospital care fragmentation, health information technology, and aging and dementia. IMC is her clinical practice.
Founder
Carolyn is a nurse practitioner specializing in geriatrics and dementia. She conducts dementia caregiver research. She does not see patients at the IMCiC.
Nurse Practitioner
Cotenna specializes in geriatrics and dementia care. She sees residents for scheduled primary care appointments every three months.
Lead Nurse Practitioner
Alison specializes in geriatrics with experience in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, primary care of older adults, and community based palliative care. She sees residents for scheduled primary care appointments every three months.
Nurse Practitioner
Kalisha specializes in geriatric psychiatry and has expertise in depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders and behavioral or psychological symptoms of dementia. She is consulted by the primary nurse practitioner and has scheduled visits with residents as needed.
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Collaborating Physician
Dr. Johnson is a geriatrician and the chair of Emory’s Department of Family and Preventive medicine. He does not see residents within IMCiC, but he consults with the nurse practitioners and monitors the after-hours line.
Collaborating Physician
Dr. Kulshreshtha is a family and preventive medicine physician. He does not see residents within IMCiC, but he consults with nurse practitioners and monitors the after-hours line.
Program Director & Social Worker
Laura communicates with residents and caregivers to assess needs, coordinate care, and plan for future needs.
Care Coordination & Navigation
Medical Assistant
Registered Nurse
Rachel is an RN who triages clinical concerns and assists families with coordinating the patient’s healthcare needs.
Patient Services Coordinator
Christina helps with scheduling and
Nurse Manager & Registered Nurse
Elisabeth routes clinical concerns and assists families with coordinating the patient’s healthcare needs. She conducts annual wellness visits.
Social Worker
Jenny communicates with residents and caregivers to assess needs, coordinate care, and plan for future needs.
Program Coordinator
Teera assists with new patient orientation, and administrative needs of the IMC.
Dementia Care Assistants
Dementia Care Assistant
Michelle visits residents in the program weekly to engage them meaningfully and support safely aging in place based on the IMCiC care plan.
Dementia Care Assistant
Taylor visits residents in the program weekly to engage them meaningfully and support safely aging in place based on the IMCiC care plan.
Dementia Care Assistant
DeMarre sees participants in the IMC Community program.
Dementia Care Assistant
Rasheed sees participants in the IMC Community program.
Dementia Care Assistant
Lucy visits residents in the program weekly to engage them meaningfully and support safely aging in place based on the IMCiC care plan.
Dementia Care Assistant
Amber visits residents in the program weekly to engage them meaningfully and support safely aging in place based on the IMCiC care plan.
Support
Your Support Makes a Difference
IMC’s breakthrough approach to dementia-friendly primary care wouldn’t be possible without generous donations from people like you. Longer appointments, direct phone access, and caregiver support are all made possible by donations from friends of IMCC.
If you’d like to support our mission of changing the way care is provided, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.