Process and organizational characteristics of memory clinics in Israel: a national survey

A survey was conducted to describe the characteristics and activities of memory clinics in Israel. A structured questionnaire was mailed to 25 memory clinics, accompanied by a cover letter and a returning envelope. The questionnaire included items regarding: (a) administrative structure of the clinic (the period and place of operation, number of staff and their professions); (b) patients’ characteristics (monthly number of patients, sources of referral and eligibility criteria); (c) assessment methods used (history, cognitive screening instruments, functional status assessment, neuroimaging and laboratory tests); (d) the assessment process (length of assessment, family involvement); and (e) outcomes of the assessment process. Twelve questionnaires were returned, yielding a 52% response rate. Overall, there was agreement regarding the general operating characteristics of the clinics. The majority was based on an interdisciplinary team including a physician, a nurse and a social worker. The mean number of new monthly patients attending the clinics was 24 (range 7–70), and the main source of referral was the Sick Funds. Mostly all clinics used the Mini Mental State Examination as a screening instrument and performed psychological, physical, neurological, and laboratory examinations. Medication treatment was the main outcome reported by the clinics. In a country like Israel, where geriatric psychiatry services are still developing, there is an increasing need to expand the number and type of services provided by memory clinics.