Scranton, Pa. — A valuable tool created by two aspiring neurologists can connect healthcare providers, patients, and families of patients with dementia to an array of community resources.
The students created “Resources for Individuals Living with Dementia and their Families,” an app that takes the fragmented information about regional dementia resources and puts them together in one convenient location.
Roshni Raj and Rachel Milke, both of the MD Class of 2028, are the app’s developers.
“Families dealing with a dementia diagnosis can feel isolated and lost,” Raj said. “Our hope is that knowing how to navigate their loved one’s care will help alleviate that anxiety.”
Roshni Raj presenting at Geisinger’s annual Clinical Quality Symposium at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville
Geisinger School of Medicine
The app is unique thanks to its integration of “dot phrases” — smart phrases used by physicians in the electronic health record system Epic. Phrases such as “.paranoia” auto-populate clinical advice and local resources during patient visits.
To implement dot phrases, the students combed through nearly 200 phrases, identified outdated and redundant entries, and consolidated them into a streamlined, accurate, and geographically relevant directory.
“Unless you’ve been using dot phrases, you might not even know they exist,” Raj said. “We wanted to make sure the information was up to date and pertinent to the area that Geisinger serves.”
Rachel Milke presenting at the Pennsylvania Neurological Society’s annual meeting in Pittsburgh
Geisinger School of Medicine
The web-based app compiles and organizes dementia care resources, ranging from in-home care and long-term facilities to caregiver support and educational materials. While not downloadable from an app store, the site is mobile-friendly and accessible across devices.
The app is available to access here.
Pre- and post-use surveys with Geisinger neurologists showed statistically significant improvements in ease of finding resources and efficiency. The team also presented its research to physicians from other institutions and disciplines and learned the app may prove useful beyond neurology.
“I was surprised by the reach of people interested,” the developers agreed.
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