Medical and service providers are faced
with the challenges and complexities of caring for older
adults. Excela Health’s comprehensive,
multidisciplinary Geriatric Assessment Service has been created
to assist the patient, his family and primary care physician by
coordinating care and promoting a higher level of functioning
for the patient.
Designed to assist physicians in the
diagnosis, treatment and management of complex geriatric
patients, this service provides the following supportive
functions:
- Evaluation of the patient’s medical, psychiatric and
social needs
- Assessment of the patient’s need for services
- A
coordinated care plan of recommendations is then developed for the primary care
physician’s review and implementation
- Adults
age 70 and older
- People
who suffer from multiple health concerns or significant
disability
- Those
experiencing mental and emotional changes that accompany their
physical illness
- Those
experiencing a decline in independent functioning
The multidisciplinary assessment
team includes:
- Board
certified physicians Barbara Wang and Daniel DiCola, who also
have advanced training in geriatric medicine
- An
advanced practice psychiatric nurse
- A
licensed social worker
- Based
on the specific needs of the patient, the team also may include
other clinical disciplines including psychiatry, neurology,
nutrition, occupational and physical therapy
- A
physician referral is required. Physicians may choose to
utilize the Geriatric Assessment Service as part of their
patient’s care plan.
- If a
patient or a family member is interested in this service, he is
encouraged to discuss this option with his physician.
Services are provided at Excela Health
Latrobe Hospital, ground floor, adjacent to outpatient
registration in the same location as the Diabetes Center.
Patients will continue to be treated by their primary
care physicians regardless of hospital affiliation.
For more information, contact
Excela
Health’s
Geriatric Assessment Services
724-537-1121
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Our Patients: Require complex levels of care and suffer from multiple
diagnoses and/or significant disability.
Our Families: “This service benefits families as well as the
patient and physician,” explains Jeff Weinberg,
MEd,
MPH, who oversees the program. “Families and loved
ones find the one-stop care and support offered can help
alleviate some of their caregiving stresses.”
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