Integration of Neuropsychological Assessment and Intervention Services Into a Specialty Geriatric Medicine Clinic

Objective: Health care delivery for older adults can be accomplished optimally via an effective and coordinated interdisciplinary team. Integrating neuropsychological services into clinics that are common referral sources, and share overlapping clinical and educational opportunities, can offer advantages to treatment delivery and provide a unique value to patients and health care teams. Research demonstrating such clinic models has been limited to nonspecialty settings (e.g., Primary Care) and can lack specific frameworks from which fully integrative services can be achieved and generalized. Herein we describe the development and implementation of neuropsychological assessment and intervention services into a Geriatric Medicine clinic at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) utilizing the Primary Care Behavioral Health model (PCBH). Method: A case illustration demonstrates the utilization of integrative neuropsychology assessment and intervention services. Results: The benefits of service colocation, as well as the potential to increase patient access and improve communication and education within an interdisciplinary team, are discussed. Conclusion: The model presented provides flexibility for clinical care and education opportunities within an interdisciplinary framework in a consultative Geriatric Medicine clinic at a Veterans Affairs medical center. Public Significance Statement Integrative neuropsychology assessment and intervention services can optimize treatment for older adults. A Primary Care Behavioral Health model (PCBH) is a flexible approach that can be utilized within a specialty Geriatric Medicine clinic.