|
|
Greenville Regional Hospital offers a free screening for Alzheimer’s disease. Southern Illinois University (SIU) designated Greenville Regional Hospital as a Primary Provider to offer the test through the Education Department. Persons can be self-referred, referred by a family member or by their physician.
Two standardized tests are used to gauge a person’s ability to think and remember. One is the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the other is the Short Blessed Dementia (SBD).
If the tests indicate there may be some cognitive problems, the testing administrator will write a letter to the patient’s doctor outlining the tests result. If the person agrees, personal data will be sent to SIU, and the individual can be referred to a neurologist in SIU's Alzheimer’s Disease Center or to their own physician. Through SIU, Greenville Regional Hospital staff attend quarterly meetings and a two day retreat each year to obtain the most current information on the care and treatment of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States continues to grow as the population ages. More than 4 million people suffer from this illness, and it is estimated that number could triple by the year 2050.
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease may offer the patient treatment and medication options that may delay the onset of more serious later stages. Delaying the onset of later stages also affords the family and caregivers precious time to learn more and to adjust to the changes in a loved one who suffers from this disease.
Contact our Education Department at 618.664.1230.x3555 for information or assistance. |