Measure 4.1. Consistent service offerings in memory clinics
The pathways to receiving a dementia diagnosis and experiences with diagnostic services vary widely. ‘Memory clinic’ is a term commonly used for services staffed with specialists in diagnosing dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). One of the goals of the National Dementia Action Plan is to increase the capacity and reach of memory clinics.
There are ongoing efforts to improve the consistency of services offered by memory clinics. For example, the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) has established the Memory Clinics Network to support people to find memory clinics and provide a consistent framework for their operation. There are now guidelines available for diagnosing dementia in memory clinics (see the ADNeT website for more information). Furthermore, the six Clinical Quality Indicators from the ADNeT Registry provide insights into the quality of care provided by participating specialist diagnostic services.
However, there are no data currently available to track this measure of progress and data development is needed.