Staffing Requirements
The current UCLA ADC model is 1 FTE nurse practitioner Dementia Care Specialist (DCS) and 1 FTE Dementia Care Assistant (DCA) per 300 patients although a staffing ratio of 1 FTE DCS and 0.5 FTE DCA per 250 patients is also possible. Full implementation with initial staffing (described below) for 250-300 patients is recommended. However, some programs may elect to begin with partial implementation with 125 to 150 patients served and 50% of the staffing below, the minimum amount that would be needed to implement the program with fidelity.
DCS: 1.0 FTE
DCA: 0.5-1.0 to assist with care coordination and check-ins with stable patients
Clinic office staff: 0.40 FTE to handle calls and scheduling
Physician Medical Director to supervise DCS: 0.10 FTE
Program Manager: 0.20 FTE to support operations and outcome reporting
24/7 coverage: can be provided by geriatrics or other physician on-call group
Additional Programmatic Requirements:
Established relationships with community-based organizations
Dementia Care Specialists have access to and chart in electronic health record
Established process for communicating with referring/primary care providers
Established psychiatry, neurology, psychology, and social work referrals
Electronic health record that has case management functionality
Organizational Structure
Under the leadership of the ADC Program Director, the Clinical Director will oversee the Dementia Care Specialist(s), while the Program Manager supervises the Dementia Care Assistants and the day-to-day operations of the program. The Clinic/Practice Manager where the program is based can also serve as the Program Manager.
