The online version of Cognistat automates many aspects of the testing process while maintaining the clinician’s central role throughout the assessment process. It is available in multiple languages and can be administered at any location around the globe on a PC, Mac, Notebook or iPad.
CAS allows for flexible data storage and ready access to this information. Data from prior evaluations can be directly compared to current findings in order to document either progression of illness or response to treatment.
Data from individual patients can be compared with control groups and reference populations. Group data can be filtered and accumulated according to criteria such as age, gender, and diagnosis. Users at a single site or multiple sites can either isolate data from individual clinicians or pool this information into a single database.
CAS in Traumatic Brain Injury
Depending on its severity and the specific region(s) of the brain that are affected, traumatic brain injury can cause a wide variety of cognitive disturbances. CAS allows the clinician to rapidly scan five major areas of cognitive function to determine the degree to which specific ability areas have been impacted. CASt has particular value in the monitoring of recovery over time from moderate and severe TBI. CAS allows doctors to not only detect cognitive losses in Mild TBI, but also to identify accompanying problems (pain, depression, sleep disturbance, medication side effects) that interact with the residues of TBI to worsen cognition.
CAS in Dementia
Cognistat allows evaluators to see clearly the nature and severity of cognitive decline in the five major ability areas. A patient’s performance on Cognistat can help answer questions that frequently occur in the elderly.
- Can the patient remember to take medications?
- Is the patient able to make medical and testamentary decisions?
- Can the patient live alone safely?
- What level of care does the patient require?
CAS in Stroke
Cognistat provides a differentiated assessment that makes it possible to identify the unique patterns of deficit caused by stroke. Because it highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of the patient it offers invaluable information that can be used in counseling family members and in guiding rehabilitation.
CAS in Substance Abuse
Cognitive impairments are frequent in patients who abuse alcohol and other substances – both as a direct consequence of substance-induced changes in brain chemistry and because of co-morbid conditions such as pain and depression. The nature and severity of cognitive deficits are important markers of the severity of illness. In addition, cognitive limitations in this population place constraints on a patients’ ability to participate in recovery programs and lead productive lives. CAS benefits clinicians by allowing them to detect cognitive impairments, treat them with a variety of interventions and monitor their response to therapy.
Why CAS is right for your practice…
- Runs on a PC, Mac, Notebook or iPad
- Detects cognitive pathology associated with major medical, neurological and psychiatric illness
- Identifies and highlights situational factors that impact test performance
- Automated scoring and profiling
- Real-time user guidance…
- Alerts the clinician to issues of possible concern
- Offers suggestions for follow-up questions
- Recommends ways of testing the limits of patients’ responses
- Suggests additional testing procedures
- An electronic data storage system…
- Adheres to HIPPA standards for privacy protection
- Offers instant comparisons with an extensive database
- Permits trend analyses
Why CAS works…
CAS succeeds where other automated assessments fail because it respects the doctor-patient relationship. Without clinician involvement doctor-patient rapport is compromised. CAS is a clinician administered, computer guided cognitive assessment tool.