The BCAT® Cognitive Ecosystem

The BCAT® Ecosystem integrates the Test System and the Interventions. 

Cognition is a Vital Sign

A foundational principle of the BCAT® is that cognition is a vital sign.  Vital signs are measurements of the body’s basic function.  Cognition is at the center of everything we do and is the engine that allows us to successfully perform everyday tasks.

The Three Tiers of the BCAT® Cognitive Ecosystem:

Tier One: The BCAT® Test System Primary Tools

The BCAT® Test System provides standardized cognitive assessment and score-based interpretation to help clinicians understand cognitive status and its functional implications. It is the core of the entire ecosystem - including validated cognitive assessment tools, scoring, reports, and interpretive logic

The BCAT® Test System is used worldwide by a variety of professionals across multiple settings from acute care and throughout post-acute settings. It is used in healthcare by psychologists, nursing professionals, rehab professionals (PT, OT, ST), care managers, and social services, as well as in home-based programs and anywhere older adults are aging in place.  The BCAT® is unique in that it provides objective measures of cognitive abilities that impact on function. 

The BCAT® Test System is comprised of six unique instruments that characterize cognitive functioning.

• The Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool (BCAT®) is the primary, multifactorial, and foundational assessment.  
• The BCAT®-Short Form (BCAT®-SF) is an abbreviated cognitive screening tool. 
• The Brief Anxiety and Depression Scale (BADS®) is a brief non-diagnostic screening tool for identifying when a formal mood assessment may be indicated by a qualified healthcare professional. 
• The Kitchen Picture Test of Judgment (KPT®) is one of the two judgment instruments in our suite of tools that is designed to identify basic judgment issues in real-world situations. 
• The Verbal Test of Practical Judgment (VPJ®) is the second judgment test designed for more nuanced judgment issues in real-world situations. 
• The Brief Cognitive Impairment Scale (BCIS®) was developed to track cognitive changes in patients with severe cognitive impairment and provide information for behavior management.

Tier Two: Secondary Tools

The secondary tools are designed to guide clinical decision making.  They are often used after clinicians administer primary test system assessments.

• The Columbia Behavior Scale (CBS-8®) was designed to help nursing staff and caregivers better manage and prevent neuropsychiatric behaviors commonly associated with sever cognitive impairment. 
• The Brief Engagement and Attention Tool for Situational Awareness (BEAT-SA®) measures situational awareness—a person's recognition of and ability to respond appropriately to an immediate care context—supporting engagement in care and life enrichment activities.
• The Mansbach Hazard Index (MHI) is a risk management tool used to identify people who are at highly elevated risk for adverse events. The MHI takes less than 3 minutes to complete. It can provide actionable information to inform the healthcare provider and team on how best to anticipate/mitigate risk and support those who are caring for people with cognitive deficits.
• The Digital Executive Functions Test (DEFT) is a scenario-based instrument that identifies executive dysfunction affecting complex IADLs—community mobility, medication management, and financial management—to inform treatment planning and level-of-care decisions.

Tier III: BCAT® Interventions

BCAT® Interventions fall into two complementary categories: (1) targeted cognitive exercises, available in digital and analog formats, that strengthen specific cognitive domains; and (2) meaningful engagement activities that foster active involvement in an activity, relationship, or community—promoting a sense of purpose, belonging, and alignment with core values.

Clinicians use these resources to target cognitive domains efficiently; caregivers use them to sustain engagement in everyday settings. Among the many resources available, four are core:

• Digital Cognitive Exercise Suite
• Working Memory Exercise Book — Professional Edition
• Working Memory Exercise Book — Home Edition
• MemPics® Book Series

Next Steps

Is your organization looking for a standardized cognitive care delivery model rooted in science?  Allow our experts to consult with you to identify a customized care model that works for your organization.  Email us at info@thebcat.com to speak with our BCAT® Integration team today.