Title: Performance-Based Cognitive Assessment Implementation in Acute Care: A Feasibility Study 

Authors:
Amanda J. Blattman, OTD, OTR/L
Sara J. Stephenson, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, CSRS

JACOT Volume 4, Issue 2

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Patients who have experienced neurological events often demonstrate independence in activities of daily living, including functional mobility, and are discharged from occupational therapy (OT) services. Although such patients are independent in some areas, they may demonstrate impairments in instrumental activities of daily living because of undiscovered to mild cognitive impairments. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of implementing two subtests (medication management and bill paying) of the Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT) and determine the ability to detect cognitive impairments in the acute care hospital setting. Two EFPT subtests were administered to a non-randomized cohort of 50 patients during an acute care hospitalization following neurological events. The two subtests were administered together in an average of 17 minutes, and cognitive impairments were detected in 49 of 50 patients (98%). Therapy discharge recommendations were changed after assessment to address functional cognitive impairments. The EFPT can be administered during the acute phase of recovery and provide information to support more robust and functional cognition-related discharge recommendations.