New Healthcare Toolkit Launches for Physicians Working with Medicare Patients

IRVINE, Calif. - Oct. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC) today announced the launch of its free toolkit – a local resource for physicians working with the aging community for use during an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV). Created by Orange County Healthy Aging Initiative, a subcommittee of OCASC, the toolkit is a compilation of screening tools and local resources to assist healthcare providers performing medical and safety screenings required by Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit. The toolkit also includes referrals for adults seeking community resources for health issues discovered during an AWV.

"Orange County holds the fastest-growing aging population in the United States," said Jim McAleer, OCASC executive chair and president and CEO of Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County. “It is imperative for our medical community to have rapid access to the local services and support offered, to enhance the quality of life of older adults.”

Members of the OC Healthy Aging Initiative have spent more than one year researching and preparing this toolkit, which offers healthcare providers:

•Health risk assessments

•Preventative services and plans

•Educational materials for patients

•Elder abuse information

•Other community resources and referrals

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, OCASC will host a dinner for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at Wilcox Manor in Tustin, to announce the launch of this toolkit. Complimentary copies will be distributed at the event. Speakers include: Helene Calvet, M.D., deputy health officer for the Orange County Health Care Agency; Mary Harward, M.D., geriatrician and toolkit contributor; Debra Rose, Ph.D., director, Institute of Gerontology, California State University, Fullerton; and Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Ph.D., local expert and consultant on aging and dementia.

OCASC will distribute an additional 200 copies of the toolkit to primary care offices throughout Orange County. Electronic copies of all toolkit materials are available at: http://www.ocagingservicescollaborative.org/annual-wellne....

For more information about the toolkit, or to attend the event, contact Megan Day at mday@alz.org.

About Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC)

Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC) is a partnership of local nonprofit and government agencies that provide an integrated network of services to more than 340,000 Orange County seniors each year. Together, agencies of the OCASC are transforming the system of care in Orange County with the goal of enabling all seniors to age with dignity, choice and independence. For more information, visit http://www.ocagingservicescollaborative.org/.