- .@AmerGeriatrics' new cognitive screening toolkit, providing info about and links to free, open-access tests, is now available on the iGeriatrics app! Check out the desktop version here: http://bit.ly/3p3wf1M #geriatrics
New York (Jan. 19, 2021) —The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) launched its new AGS Cognitive Screening Toolkit on the iGeriatrics app today, introducing an easy-to-access resource that can help clinicians select the appropriate free, open-access cognitive screening test among those identified by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for use with primary care patients.
Users can browse each of the 10 free cognitive screening tests or narrow their choices using filters based on how the test is administered: whether it evaluates a patient's executive function and/or short-term memory; whether it is simple or challenging to score; and whether it takes less or more than 10 minutes to complete.
“When it comes to screening for cognitive impairment, one size does not fit all — different and complementary approaches work in different situations and for different patients,” explained toolkit co-editor Dr. Frank Molnar, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa and co-author of a recent Journal of the American Geriatrics Society article about choosing practical cognitive screening tools for one’s practice. “The information and criteria in this new toolkit will empower primary care clinicians to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each free, open-access screening test and make decisions that are best for each individual patient.”
The AGS Cognitive Screening Toolkit is available as a feature of the AGS’ iGeriatrics App, which is free to downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, and as a free digital tool on GeriatricsCareOnline.org, the AGS portal for geriatrics tools and resources. The toolkit provides information on screening instruments only; it does not include information on tools for diagnosis or staging of cognitive impairment.
About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has—for more than 75 years—worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.