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Dr. Carrie Champ Morera, project director, and Daniel McFadden, director of Customer Support, were thrilled to join Dr. Jeremy Sharp from The Testing Psychologist podcast to discuss telehealth.

They chatted about topics to consider regarding remote assessment, addressed concerns such as technology issues and cultural factors in remote administration, talked about PARiConnect, and provided information on how PAR continues to support clinicians during the COVID-19 crisis.

Listen today!

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The COVID-19 crisis has changed the world as we know it. On a professional level, social distancing and safer-at-home guidelines mean that many practitioners are now using the internet and other technologies to stay in touch with their patients, clients, and students.

Although they can no longer come into the office, older patients with conditions causing cognitive impairment or dementia still need to be evaluated and monitored. Many of these patients may not be familiar or comfortable with video chatting or other common online tools.

The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) can help. In clinical and research use for more than 30 years, the TICS was the first measure developed specifically for remote cognitive assessment. It provides a quick and easy way for clinicians to screen patients and clients for cognitive impairment and has proven itself in hundreds of studies and clinical trials. It has also been translated into several foreign languages and is available for licensing.

“The TICS is meant for remote assessment,” said test coauthor Jason Brandt, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Even if you can’t see the patient in person, you can still get an indication if he or she is having difficulty thinking, remembering, or communicating.”

Consisting of just 11 items, the TICS takes about 10 minutes to administer by telephone. A family member or other proctor is required to be with the examinee to ensure the environment is appropriate for testing. An S-level product, it can be administered by anyone with appropriate training, including nurses and trained research assistants.  Results are reported using a qualitative impairment range and T scores.

With the current constraints of COVID-19, checking up on elderly patients who have or are at risk of having cognitive impairment is essential. “In just minutes,” Brandt said, “the TICS gives you a snapshot of the person’s cognitive functioning and allows you to make more informed clinical decisions.”

Learn more or order.

 

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In this time of great uncertainty, the changes to normal routines and practices can cause stress and anxiety. Please know that PAR is still here to serve our Customers and we plan to continue to do so in even broader ways. One of those ways is to provide you with information about the COVID-19 pandemic that is relevant and specific to your needs and the needs of those you serve. We have put up a web page that will be updated with new resources and information as we identify solutions. We hope you find it a valuable resource. 

 

 

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As everyone is aware, COVID-19 continues to be of significant concern in the U.S. and worldwide. We want to assure everyone that we are closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Federal Government to ensure we are following their recommendations to protect the safety of our staff, Customers, and partners.

As part of these measures, we are discouraging all business travel into the foreseeable future.

In response to the recent outbreak in Florida, PAR has implemented our emergency response procedures. To protect the health and safety of our staff, we have put in place a remote working schedule for most of our team members. We do not anticipate any interruptions in service and will continue to provide the same best-in-class Customer support you have come to expect.

While this is an unprecedented moment, it’s important that we approach it with a sense of calm and responsibility.

In the meantime, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

With great appreciation, Kristin



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