Many medical practitioners, including neurologists and neuropsychologists, are using telehealth in the current environment to reduce in person interaction and limit risk of infection for themselves, their staff, and their patients, many of whom are seniors at high risk of complications from COVID-19.
Computerized cognitive testing has become even more relevant in this environment of increased infection risk. Philips IntelliSpace Cognition, a new digital cognitive assessment tool, enables:
1. The device, or platform.
ISC on the 12.9 inch iPad Pro has been shown to be easy to use by seniors, even those without technology expertise. In addition, the size of the iPad Pro resembles the paper and pencil format that the tests were derived from and the ISC tests have been validated and normed to show similar results. For any assessment tool, putting it on a PC or mobile format that it was not validated and normed on could cause errors in the results.
2. The supervision or interaction happening in the home.
Whether it’s turning on a device, getting appropriate help if needed, or even having difficulty with a test due to cognitive status, issues may occur depending on the age, technology savvy, or cognitive status of the patient. If more or less guidance than intended is provided, then the test results lose accuracy.
1 MarkeTech Group, Davis, CA, study of 75 neurologists with clinical practices, commissioned by Philips 2018.
2 Vermeent S, Dotsch R, Schmand B, et al. Evidence of validity for a newly developed digital cognitive test battery. Frontiers. 2019 [article under revision]
3 Based on a 2019 Philips study of 100 neurologists in the US
4 Scharre D. The digital future of cognitive screening. Practical Neurology. 2017.
5 Justin Miller interview.