For Referring Medical Professionals

Thank you for choosing the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Memory Care Center for the continuation of care for your patient.

The Memory Care Center focuses primarily on the diagnosis and continuing care for older adults with cognitive and memory problems. We also see younger individuals with cognitive complaints, but these visits will be on a consultation basis only. All referrals are reviewed before patients are accepted for scheduling.

In all cases, a referral from a primary care medical professional is required.

Appointments at the Memory Care Center require that the patient:

  • Have a referral from a primary care practitioner
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Be free of an active workers’ compensation claim related to cognitive performance
  • Reside in the community (a non-long-term care facility)

Referrals

Please ensure that patients and their care partners are informed about the referral to the Memory Care Center and that they agree to attend the visits with us.

We kindly request that cognitive or psychiatric medications not be initiated prior to the referral. Starting such medications can complicate our evaluation process.

We kindly request that you provide a few sentences outlining the nature of the memory issue or other cognitive concern that led to this referral to our Memory Care Center.

Internal Hartford HealthCare Referrals (Within Hartford HealthCare Entities)

  1. Search for Referral in Epic:
    • In the “New Order” box located in the lower left section of the screen, type “memory”.
    • Select “Ambulatory referral to Neurology – Memory Care Center” from the list.
  1. Cognitive Screening Information:
    • Ensure you enter the cognitive screening instrument performed along with its score in the referral.

Please note If the referral is for non-cognitive neurological complaints or non-cognitive geriatric psychiatry, please refer directly to the appropriate specialty.

For non-Hartford HealthCare entities

For non-Hartford HealthCare entities, please fax us a completed referral form:

Download Patient Referral

Important Information Before Making a Referral

Please ensure that your referral includes the following:

  1. Most Recent Progress Note: This helps us understand the current clinical context.
  2. Complete Medical History: A comprehensive history, including any relevant details, is important for accurate assessment.
  3. Current Medications: A list of the patient's medications is essential for our evaluation.
  4. Cognitive Screening Test Results: We require the results of one of the following screening tools:
    • Memory Impairment Screen (MIS)
    • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
    • Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Exam
    • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Alternatively, in some cases, a detailed mental status exam may suffice in place of formal screening instruments.

Please note that blood work or imaging (e.g., MRI) are not necessary for the referral, as these will be part of our comprehensive evaluation. However, if you already have relevant results—especially thyroid function tests, vitamin B12 levels, CT/MR imaging discs/reports, or neuropsychological testing results—we kindly request that you send them to us if they are not available within EPIC.

Thank you for your collaboration in providing the necessary information for an effective evaluation.

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For the First Visit

As part of our comprehensive diagnostic process, the initial evaluation typically spans three visits, although this may vary depending on the individual case. One of the key components of the assessment is domain-specific cognitive testing, which is commonly administered by our Memory Care Center’s neuropsychologist. Most (but not all) patients will undergo this testing.

Please ensure that both your patient and their care partner(s) understand the following:

  1. Diagnosis Availability: A definitive diagnosis is usually not available at the first visit. The diagnostic process involves careful evaluation over multiple visits.
  2. Visit Duration: The initial visit will generally last between one to two hours. This allows time for a thorough assessment. Please inform your patient and their care partner(s) so they can plan accordingly.

We appreciate your assistance in preparing your patients and their families for this process. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out.

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Meet & Greet

If you would like to schedule a “Meet & Greet” about efficient performance of cognitive screening tests – such as to fulfill the cognitive requirement on the Medicare Annual Wellness visit – please contact the Memory Care Center and we will be happy to make arrangements for you. There is, of course, no charge for this service.

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Memory Care Center

  • Location

    Address:
    1260 Silas Deane Highway
    Suite 101
    Wethersfield, CT 06109
    Get Directions >>

  • Contact Us

    Phone: 860.545.7550
    Fax: 860.545.7180

  • Hours

    Monday – Friday
    8:00 AM – 4:30 PM