Repeating Health Data: Senior with memory loss
This data path describes several interactions between medical professionals and an elderly patient suffering from memory loss
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Hello. I have an appointment to see Dr Habib, but I don't know if I got off on the right floor. I got confused in the elevator.
You came to the right place. Do you have your health card with you?
Yes, here it is.
Great, and can you please tell me your name, date of birth, address, and telephone number?
My name is Pat Jones. I live at 25 Cotton Avenue in Toronto. I can't remember my postal code. My phone number is...hold on, let me check my note that my son wrote for me... It is 416-222-4444.
Perfect and what is your date of birth please?
Didn't I say that yet? March 1, 1931
Thank you very much. Have a seat and we will call you when Dr Habib is ready for you.
Dr Habib calls Pat Jones in to the office
Hello Pat. How are you doing today?
Hi Dr Habib. I am feeling unwell. I have a terrible stomach ache. I fell down yesterday because of it.
You fell down because of your stomach ache?
I think that is why I fell down but now I can't remember. But I know I have been having a bad stomach ache and I have bruises from the fall.
How long has the stomach ache been going on and can you show me where it hurts?
It hurts here and I think it has been about 3 weeks so far.
OK, let's get you up on the table so I can have a closer look. Does it hurt when I press here? Here? OK, mmm hmmm. Now let me see the bruises from your fall. OK, the knee one is ok, the hip one is bad. Do you remember how the fall happened?
Yes it hurts a lot. I don't remember - I think I tripped on a branch.
I am concerned that you fell, but am more concerned about your belly ache. Let's get you over to a specialist, a gastroenterologist, to find out what is going on.
OK. Oh yes - I remember now - I had a stomach ache that made me fall. Is the test today? Do I need an appointment?
Yes, it's today. They have a cancellation and we will get you in right away. Don't worry.
Pat gets wheeled to Gastroenterology and is met by a nurse on the desk
Hello. Can you please tell me your name, date of birth, address, and telephone number?
My name is Pat Jones. I live at 25 Cotton Avenue in Toronto. I can't remember my postal code. My phone number is written down here - can you see it?
Yes, I can see it. Thank you. And tell me what seems to be the trouble?
I think it is because I fell.
Oh I see, can you tell me when and how you fell? Do you know why you fell? Did you trip on something?
Someone already asked me this. Can you ask them this question instead?
It would be better for me if you could explain your situation. It's good to hear it directly from the patient to make sure we didn't miss anything.
OK. I think it was two months ago that I got a stomach ache.
OK. Let's get you up on the table. Dr. Correia will be in shortly to examine you.
Nurse goes to see Dr. Correia after Pat's appointment.
Dr Correia - we have a big problem with Pat Jones. I was trying to ask for details on his situation, but there is memory loss. I just received the notes from Dr. Habib's office and we got a different story than the story Dr. Habib got.
Thank you. I realize this is an issue with many of our older patients who experience memory loss. I wish our hospital system had an electronic medical record that followed the patient, so we could rely on the facts that are contained in the records sooner. I wonder if we will ever figure this out.
For purposes of this Data Path, Canadian terminology and definitions have been used for consistency. We acknowledge that different jurisdictions and/or data protection regulations include different terms or definitions to describe similar concepts. Please refer to the FAQs for further information.