Interdisciplinary Memory Assessment Program (IMAP)

Froedtert Hospital introduced the innovative Interdisciplinary Memory Assessment Program (IMAP) clinic to diagnose and treat mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 2017. The program was started to help individuals experiencing a decline in memory or thinking skills.

This program is the first of its kind in Wisconsin. The IMAP clinic offers patients and their families a two-hour visit/appointment where they meet with a behavioral neurologist, neuropsychologist and a social worker to review cognitive concerns in order to provide a diagnosis and a treatment plan at the end of the visit.

Our team combined services to include neurology and neuropsychology to reduce the amount of time patients and families wait for a diagnosis and care plan. By combining these services with social work we can provide optimal care for patients and their families.

Initial Memory Assessment and Health History

Patients are usually referred to the IMAP clinic by their primary care provider who may notice the beginning stages of memory decline. After an appointment is set up, the patient and their family receive a phone call by the IMAP clinic nurse two weeks prior to their visit.

During the call, the nurse collects a thorough health history from the patient and seeks confirmation of the patient’s chief complaint from their family. The nurse also records a current self-assessment of mental status from the patient and gathers any information related to a family history of mental illness.

What to Expect During an IMAP Visit/Appointment

During the IMAP visit, the patient and family meet with a behavioral neurologist and a Ph.D.-level neuropsychologist to discuss anything that wasn’t discussed during the intake phone call. The patient participates in neuropsychological testing. This testing assesses the patient’s cognitive abilities, including memory, language, executive, visuospatial skills and others depending on the concerns.

During the patient’s testing, the family meets with the IMAP clinic social worker. The topic and discussion depends on the patient’s level of cognitive ability. The social worker plays a more active role if the patient has a more advanced stage of their MCI or is showing signs of mild Alzheimer’s disease. The social worker can provide the family with education and connections to support groups, adult day camp centers or any resource needed.

Following testing and the social worker meeting, the care team discusses the patient’s case and diagnosis. The team then meets with patient and their family and provides a diagnosis and treatment guidelines. The IMAP clinic is able to provide approximately 90% of patients and families with a diagnosis, treatment plan and follow up visit, which is usually with the neurology department during their IMAP clinic visit.