Use electronic health records to flag potential indicators of cognitive impairment.

Most medical records already include information about characteristics of patients, such as age, health conditions, and functional abilities that have been found to be associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.

Potential Indicators of Cognitive Impairment include:

  • Stroke.
  • Diabetes.
  • Depressive symptoms.
  • Falls.
  • Gait Disorders. 
  • Need for assistance with money management.
  • Need for assistance with medication administration. 
  • Need for assistance with activities of daily living. 
  • Some of these factors, such as stroke, are known causes of cognitive impairment. Others, such as the need for assistance with medication administration, may be caused by cognitive impairment.
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The primary care team can use information about these factors as flags to identify individuals who should receive a cognitive assessment and a diagnostic evaluation (Barnes, 2014; Hausdorff, 2013; Stark, 2013).

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One way to do this is to create alerts in the electronic health record related to one or a combination of these indicators (Cordell, 2013).


Kickstart | Approaches to Implement

Overview | Discuss Brain Health | Engage in Conversations About Protective Actions | Address Diverse Life Experiences | Discuss Memory and Cognition | Observe for Signs and Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment | Listen for Patient and Family Concerns About Cognition | Address Any Sensory Loss and Use Effective Communication Strategies | Use Health Questionnaires | Use Electronic Health Records | Primary Prevention Recommendations for Reducing Risk of Cognitive Decline | Warning Signs That Might Indicate Dementia | Resources for Patients About Brain Health | Kickstart References