Episode 2.1. Overview of Geriatric Programs & the Advanced Illness Clinic at Inova

Dr. Denise Mohess provides an overview of the community-based geriatric programs that are being developed by Inova and an overview of the Advanced Illness Clinic.

The Advanced Illness Clinic is:

• An outpatient clinic which can provide primary care or consultation to older adults who are medically complex and palliative care consults for those with serious illness.
• This clinic specializes in caring for patients with medically and psychosocially complex health problems -- meaning an older adult with many medical diagnoses, multiple medications, and likely needs more support to stop the cycle of trips going back and forth to the hospital. This type of patient often have cognitive or functional challenges that impact their ability to care for themselves or live independently at home and family caregivers may be challenged to manage the older adult.
• The Advanced Illness Clinic has a core staff of physicians, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, social workers, and office staff.
• Initial visits are one hour for new patients, and 30 minutes for follow-up appointments.

To make an appointment at the Advanced Illness Clinic, or get more information, please call: (571) 328-7775

More information about Dr. Mohess:

Denise Mohess, MD is the Section Chief of Geriatrics and Medical Director of Advanced Illness and Geriatrics Populations at Inova Health, a role that is most fulfilling as she has dedicated her career to caring for the seriously ill and vulnerable. Denise was previously the Associate Medical Director for the Palliative Medicine and Comprehensive Care service at Inova Fairfax hospital where she finds great joy in providing palliative care throughout the age spectrum, from neonates to those of advanced ages, focused on providing relationship centered care to patients and families facing serious illness.

Her training in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, has allowed her over the past 15 years to care for vulnerable patients populations in an array of clinical settings from patient?s homes to the hospital bedside. As an agent of compassionate care she is the Physician Leader for Schwartz Center Rounds at Fairfax Campus to foster compassion and resilience in healthcare providers.

She is faculty in training with the American Academy of Communication in Healthcare and is actively?engaged in teaching and coaching communication and professionalism across the continuum of healthcare. Denise believes in relationship centered care with a foundation of developing relationships between the healthcare team, patients and their families. These roles all complement each other to promote wellness, decrease burnout and improve overall provider and patient experience.