Early Detection with Minimal Staff Expense

Sensitivity and Specificity at Low Cost

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.

How a Testing Session Works

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 seated comfortably. The staff person enters the patient identifying number and basic demographic information. The introduction then begins to “talk” to the patient (using recorded audio).  It greets the patient, asks if the volume is high enough, if they have their glasses on and are comfortable and ready.

The staff member then leaves the room so the patient can take the Screen tests in privacy. The software takes them through some easy examples of touching some targets on the screen, graduating to slightly more complex sequences, so that the patient can get comfortable with the test process. Their privacy (no observing or participating staff) reduces embarrassment and possible errors due by distracting tester actions. The entire test is self-administered.  All possible patient errors and delays have been accommodated for in the design of the software (eliminating the need for staff training).

The Testing Process

The computer shows patients various pictures, words and designs and asks them a series of questions and elicits their responses, all registered by single-touch responses. By simply touching the computer monitor to make their choices, the person taking the test works their way through the assessment. When they touch the screen on the last question, the test data are instantly sent to Screen’s headquarters via the Internet, where the test data receives a proprietary statistical analysis and is then passed on to a neuropsychological specialist (MA or PhD) for final scoring. Read our section on the CANS-MCI test battery for more details.

The Cognitive Report

The final physician report details the test’s results on three cognitive domains (memory, symbol fluency and executive function). Additionally, the report provides the likelihood that the patient will be diagnosed with MCI if they were given a full neuropsychological test battery (this probability was the criterion standard used in earlier scientific 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. Read our section on the CANS-MCI cognitive report for more details.

Computer and Software Needs

Most computers capable of running Windows are already capable of running our software.  The basic requirements are:

• Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11
• USB ports
• Audio hardware and speakers
• Ethernet or WiFi Internet connectivity
• 13.3” to 19” integrated widescreen touchscreen capable of displaying 640 x 480 resolution with a preserved aspect ratio, or an external touchscreen monitor with a native 4:3 display (or a widescreen capable of displaying 640 x 480 resolution with a preserved aspect ratio).

If you are unsure of a device’s display capability, contact us for consultation and read more below.

Now for some specific suggestions.

For portability and ease-of-use we highly recommend “convertible”, “hybrid”, or “2-in-1” devices. Some of these have detachable keyboards and many can be folded backwards into a stable tent formation, which is ideal for administering our tests to senior patients.

There are so many devices in the world of Windows that Screen, Inc. can research only a handful of them. Let us know if you are considering a particular device and we will be happy to review its specs with you.

Our customers have successfully used the following computers:

• Surface Pro 3 to Surface Pro 7 (a separate keyboard is required)
• ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 Thin and Light 2-in-1 laptop
• HP Envy or Pavilion x360 2-in-1 14″ or 15.6″ Touchscreen laptops
• Dell Inspiron 14″ or 15.6″ 5000 2-in-1 HD Touchscreen laptops
• Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14″ or 15.6″ 2-in-1 Touchscreen laptops

IMPORTANT: Be sure the published specs clearly state Intel UHD Graphics or one of the Intel 6xx chipset series; one of the older “Intel® HD Graphics 5500”, “Intel® HD Graphics 520”, “Intel® HD Graphics 510”, or “Intel® HD Graphics 515” chipsets. If the specs say only “Intel® HD Graphics” then that alone is not enough to be sure it is the correct or an adequate chipset, and in this case the specs should be researched further. Less commonly used by our customers — but also acceptable — are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics chipsets.

Convertible tablets are made by all the major manufacturers and they will all work for the CANS-MCI as long as they meet the above specs. Shop around and keep in mind that online offers can change day by day. Good deals will come and go but they’re always appearing somewhere.

Please let us know the device you are considering and we will be happy to review its specs with you.