OVERVIEW: SCREEN’S TESTING SERVICE

Physician organizations are increasingly turning to memory companies like Screen for help establishing if their patients’ memory problems are a normal part of aging, or if they are symptomatic of more severe underlying issues, like Alzheimer’s.

In order to accommodate increased demand for its services, Screen has developed internet-connected testing units that can be used in physician offices in almost any part of the world.

 

SCREEN’S COMPREHENSIVE TESTING SERVICE

SCREEN’S COMPREHENSIVE TESTING SERVICE allows busy physicians to completely outsource the memory testing of its patients to Screen Inc., while being kept up-to-date on their patient’s memory skills, and quickly alerted if their patients show sudden declines in cognitive abilities.

Screen has qualified the correct size touch screen that must be connected to a Windows PC. The monitor we have qualified is very economical (special discount to Screen doctors), extremely easy to set-up, and easy for patients to use—especially the elderly (simple single touches to the screen with a finger).

When the patient comes into the doctor’s office for a scheduled cognitive testing, they are greeted by the doctor’s staff, brought to the testing unit, and made comfortable. The staff person enters the patient identifying number. The first test then begins to “talk” to the patient (audio files): it greets the patient, asks them if the volume is high enough, if they have their glasses on, and brings them through some examples so the patient is comfortable with the test process. Then the staff member leaves the room so the patient can take the Screen test in privacy. The privacy reduces embarrassment and errors caused by distracting tester actions. Test administration errors and the need for staff training are eliminated by automated test administration.

The computer shows them pictures, words and designs and asks them a series of questions, all answered by single touch responses on the screen. By simply touching the computer screen to make their choices, the person taking the test works their way through the examination. When they touch the screen on the last question, the test data are instantly sent to Screen’s Seattle headquarters (via the internet) where test data are analyzed by a live neuropsychological testing technician.

After an in-depth analysis (cross-sectional analyses of cognitive factor scores and background information, with longitudinal analysis if available), an advanced-degree specialist prepares a Physician Report that details the test’s results on three cognitive domains (memory, symbol fluency and executive function). Additionally, the Report provides the likelihood that the patient would be diagnosed with MCI if they were given a full neuropsychological test battery (this probability was the criterion standard used in earlier Screen validation studies).

When doctors review Screen's Physician Report, they are able to reassure many of their patients that their test results are normal and they have nothing to worry about. Yet, for patients whose test results show some cause for concern, doctors get early warnings that support the need for additional testing and follow-up. That’s exactly what’s supposed to happen in both cases: Screen’s tests provide an enormous service in terms of medical follow-up decisions and the emotional well-being of patients.

 

SCREEN’S TESTS AND TESTING UNITS

Screen's Testing Service is ideal for most physician organizations. First of all, elderly patients love the simplicity of Screen's single touch responses and the way the computer talks to them—making it easy for them to understand the questions and easy for them to register their answers. With audio and graphic files embedded in its award-winning testing software (CANS-MCI), Screen’s free testing software has human-voice instructions that are very easy to understand such as: “Soon you will see a word with four pictures. Touch the picture that goes with the word.” “Do you want to see the instructions again?”

Secondly, both doctors and patients like the convenience and control over potential distractions that come with testing in the doctor’s office.

Thirdly, Screen's detailed Physician Reports are delivered to the physician within an hour of testing, and they were specifically designed to be extremely easy to understand so the doctors can show patients (and their families) their test scores relative to “normal” scores (percentiles, graphs and tables) in follow-up office visits.

Screen has researched all available hardware and recommends one specific external touch screen. This external touch screen is 15” at a 4:3 ratio (the diagonal measure and the required size). It is much cheaper, yet more rugged, than the All-in-Ones we know are currently available, with one exception. We keep a list of qualified All-in-One touchscreen computers. Since hardware availability changes often, please contact us for an up-to-date list. Screen must qualify any All-in-One prior to your clinic purchase. The hardware we recommend is available from a reputable distributor that gives our doctors discounts and excellent service.

 

FAMILY AND GERIATRIC PRACTICES

Internists and Family Practices greatly benefit from Screen’s Testing Service and from the speed with which reports are returned to them. If the Report indicates that the patient’s test data look normal for their age and education, doctors can immediately give their patient the good news and reassure them that their memory health looks good. On the other hand, if Screen’s Report had some cause for concern, the internist or family doctor might arrange a second testing in two or three months followed immediately, at the same visit, with a follow-up meeting to review the longitudinal report with the patient and the family, and, if indicated, thereby provide the most family-supportive context in which they refer the patient to a neurologist for follow-up testing. Because Screen’s tests have been designed with the elderly in mind they are particularly well-suited for Geriatric Practices and Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

 

NEUROLOGISTS AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS

By having a Screen testing unit in their offices, neurologists often use Screen’s Testing Service as a starting point in gathering baseline data. Neuropsychologists who are backed up with waiting lists for their full neuropsychological evaluations can re-test as soon as they get a referral, to create a rational waiting list. In both cases, the longitudinal data help them determine if more extensive cognitive tests are needed. There is no point in getting an immediate, expensive full neuropsychological evaluation if the second testing shows improvement. If Screen’s Physician Report indicated potential cognitive impairments, neurologists might follow-up, even before the full neuropsychological evaluation data are received, with brain scans (MRI) or brain waves (EEG) to arrive at a diagnosis. Neurologists also use Screen’s tests for post-diagnostic testing—to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and interventions for patients who have been diagnosed with MCI – e.g. to see if there are any improvements.

 

HMOS

Screen’s tests are particularly helpful for busy HMO practices. When patients visit their HMO primary care physician with concerns about memory, rather than immediately ordering expensive tests (brain imaging, full battery of neuropsychological tests, etc.), or sending all patients with memory concerns to a specialist in their HMO, the primary-care doctor can first ask the patient to come into the office to take a test on Screen’s Testing Unit.

After receiving Screen’s Physician Report, the primary-care HMO physician could then send those patients whose test results showed a cause for concern to the neurologists in the Group, while assuring the patients whose test results appeared normal that everything looks fine. If the results show a possible problem, a second testing in 3 months will create an even more definitive longitudinal analysis. Using Screen’s tests this way ensures that the HMO’s resources are better matched with patients’ needs—providing exceptional patient services, while being fiscally vigilant.

 

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Since Community Health Centers have limited financial resources and the range of medical needs served often exceed staff availability, outsourcing its memory testing to Screen Inc. represents an ideal partnership.

By subscribing to Screen’s Services and having a Testing Unit right on their premises that gives the tests in multiple languages, Community Health Clinics can better serve their patients without having to train their staff in test administration. Additionally, since Medicare and Medicaid allow physician remuneration for CNS Assessments/Testing, Community Health Clinics will be provided with desperately needed net cash inflows.

 

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES AND LIFE CARE CENTERS

Retirement communities and life care centers make daily facility and medical decisions based on their residents’ level of self-sufficiency. Screen’s Testing allows their residents to be periodically tested at their premises. Screen’s Test Reports help administrators and medical directors make the most optimal facility and medical care decisions for each resident’s safety and well-being.

 

CONTACT US TOLL-FREE AT 1-866-668-9038

We have spent a decade developing tests that are easy for patients to take and for staff to administer. Our tests were developed to precisely analyze the cognitive domains that are most predictive of MCI and spot trends that allow us to give accurate early warnings. We provide our physician customers with detailed, yet easy-to-understand Physician Reports and unsurpassed customer service. When you look for a specialty testing company to test your patients, we hope you will consider our services.