INTRODUCING THE MBSImP^™©

What your colleagues are saying about the MBSImP:

“I did the online course and I found it to be exceptional. . . It’s objective and allows for better communication between trained therapists. Can’t recommend it enough.”

“I really enjoyed the course and am recommending it to all my colleagues. It was positively challenging. I feel so much more confident when evaluating our VFSS results now and it truly does save time in the long run.”

“The characteristics for each component are well defined, the videos provide excellent examples of the components. The attention to detail is outstanding. The learning is enhanced by the availability of the replay of the videos for study.”

“I am so excited to have this standardization protocol in place. I have been frustrated for a long time with the differences in interpretation of MBSs from one clinician to another. I think this will add credibility to our profession. I am excited to start using the reports and contribute to research!”

The call for evidence-based practices continues to get louder. The time has come for us to standardize the MBSS. We owe it to our patients to provide for them optimal care – care that is consistent, reliable, and supports evidence-based practices. We owe it to our profession to demonstrate the evidence needed to justify what we do to payors, patients, and to ourselves.

The MBSImP helps to provide:

Objective Assessment. Clinical decision-making should be based on evidence rather than opinion. Analysis of research data indicated that the standardized MBSImP provides objective assessment possessing both inter- and intra-rater reliability greater than 80% when used by like-trained clinicians.

Better Patient Care. Provide the best care for patients – care that is consistent, reliable, and supports evidence-based practices.

Efficient & Precise Communication. The standardized approach of the MBSImP provides a means for you “to speak the same language” as your colleagues within your facility as well as your colleagues in other facilities. Utilize consistent, specific, and accurate communication of patient status to other healthcare professionals through a common vernacular in assessment and reporting.

Professional Competency. Demonstrate your proficiency in the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders.

Necessity of Skilled Services. Help to provide invaluable data to the MBSImP’s global data registry – data that will demonstrate the evidence needed to justify what we do to payors, physicians, patients, and to ourselves.

Research Data. Contribute to the first and only international data registry dedicated solely to swallowing dysfunction, providing an adjunct to research that has never existed, until now.

Investing in the MBSImP helps to increase:

Staff Competency. Demonstrate MBSS competency in new and existing staff to accrediting agencies through use of a standardized training mechanism of swallowing physiology and impairment.

Efficiency & Accuracy. Achieve standardized assessment, measurement, written documentation, and communication across the entire Dysphagia care continuum: acute, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, and outpatient.

Evidence-Based Practice. The MBSImP was validated by a rigorous, five-year study. The MBSImP provides objective assessment possessing both inter- and intra-rater reliability greater than 80% when used by like-trained clinicians.

Positive Patient Outcomes. Preparedness of the treating clinician to interpret findings for targeted treatment even if the MBSS was completed at a different facility by a different clinician.

Consumer Recognition. Patients, physicians, and payors will view your facility as having attained advanced MBSS competency.

Necessity of Skilled Services. Promote the accumulation of data to provide the evidence needed to justify what we do to payors, patients, and to ourselves.

Lack of standardization:

• IMPEDES understanding of true functional results
• Produces AMBIGUOUS reporting of outcomes
• HINDERS our understanding of restorative surgical and rehabilitation targets

Speech-Language Pathologists have made great gains in the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders. What has been lacking is a means to communicate MBSS results in a practical, consistent, and accurate format that supports evidenced-based practice. The time has come to standardize how we discuss a patient's impairment, how we target treatment, and how we communicate with physicians, nurses, and our fellow speech-language pathologists. Through using a standardized approach, like the MBSImP provides, information obtained and communicated will be valid, comprehensive, and reliable.

Yes. The MBSImP was validated by a rigorous, five-year study. Analysis of research data indicated that the standardized MBSImP provides objective assessment possessing both inter- and intra-rater reliability greater than 80% when used by like-trained clinicians.

View MBSImP Publication #1
View MBSImP Publication #2

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Disclaimer:

The health information stored in this electronic software system meets the requirements of de-identified as stated in 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 164.514b(2)(i) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  The requirements of HIPAA do not apply to health information that has been de-identified [164.502(d)(2)]. Please note the disclosure of a code or other means of record identification designed to enable this de-identified information to be re-identified is prohibited.  A disclosure of a code can be defined as the release, transfer, provision of access to, or divulging in any other manner of a re-identification code outside the entity providing treatment or holding the health information. 

Have additional questions? Please email mbsimp@northernspeech.com

TUITION:

     $600 individual**
     $500 each for groups of 3 or more**

CEUs:

     2.1 CEUs (included in tuition)

PATIENT DATA & REPORTS

Included in the tuition cost for those who achieve the status of Registered MBSImP Clinician. This very functional area of MBSImP.com includes online user tools that were designed for daily use by clinicians to:

• Create and maintain a database of patients with dysphagia, consisting of HIPAA compliant, de-identified data that includes diagnoses, MBSImP results, effectiveness of intervention, and patient outcomes.
• Generate assessment reports. These editable reports will be detailed and reflective of the study and comply with Joint Commission requirements for documentation.
• Track patient progress and outcomes, and demonstrate evidence for treatment.
• Access online forums for communication with other Registered MBSImP Clinicians around the world.
• Contribute to the first and only international data registry dedicated solely to swallowing dysfunction, providing an adjunct to research that has never existed, until now.

DISCOUNT:

**Those who have attended or will attend Dr. Bonnie Martin-Harris' MBSImP CE seminar will receive a tuition credit good toward enrollment in the MBSImP Web-Based Training. CEUs are offered separately for both the seminar and the web training. Attending the CE seminar is NOT a requirement to become a Registered MBSImP Clinician. The only way to become a Registered MBSImP Clinician is through the web-based training and testing.

You will need to complete the MBSImP Web-Based Training. Those who successfully score 80% or higher within the online Reliability Assessment testing will be awarded 2.1 CEUs, earn the designation of "Register MBSImP Clinician," and be granted access to the MBSImP online interface for Patient Data & Reports. Only Speech-Language Pathologists are eligible to become Registered MBSImP Clinicians.

Please see the preview video at the top of this page for a tour of the training.

The MBSImP consists of a web-based training program that is divided into 3 zones.

THE LEARNING ZONE: This first zone will utilize 72 videofluoroscopy segments, each combined with cutting-edge, 3-D swallow animation, to demonstrate and explain the 17 physiologic components and scores of the MBSImP.

THE TRAINING ZONE: Within the second zone, participants put the scoring scheme to practical use through the scoring of each MBSImP component, initially on single, isolated swallows taken from swallow studies, and then scoring each component on full studies. Participants will need to score all single swallows then score all full studies before access will be granted to zone 3, the reliability zone.

THE RELIABILITY ZONE: This is the "testing zone." Participants will be tested on their newly acquired skill in using the MBSImP to successfully capture and profile swallowing impairment. Ten swallow studies must be scored. The scores can be reviewed and changed as needed prior to submitting the full test. Participants will have the ability to return to zones 1 and 2 as needed as they progress through the Reliability Assessment testing. Once the scores are submitted for all 10 studies, notification is provided of either successful completion (minimum of 80% accuracy) or of the need to repeat the reliability zone testing. The reliability testing can be repeated as needed until a score of 80% or higher is achieved.

PATIENT DATA & REPORTS: This fourth area of MBSImP.com is available to those clinicians who successfully pass the Reliability Zone testing. It contains very functional online user tools that were designed for daily use by clinicians.

It will require between 20 and 25 hours for most learners to work through the MBSImP training and pass the online Reliability Assessment testing with a minimum of 80% accuracy. There are no time limits for completing the training and learners may re-test as needed in order to achieve the 80% passing threshold.

There are no time limits for completing the training. Once a learner successfully passes the testing zone and becomes a "Registered MBSImP Clinician” at that time the “testing zone” is replaced by the Patient Data & Reports online user tools. Unlimited access to the Learning and Training Zones remain after passing the testing, allowing for continued study and practice.

Yes. The status of Registered MBSImP Clinician is awarded for a period of 5 years from date of passing the online reliability testing. Further training, testing, and tuition will be required to maintain Registered MBSImP Clinician status beyond the initial 5-year period.

No, it is not required. The only way to become a Registered MBSImP Clinician is to complete the MBSImP Web-Based Training. Many will choose to utilize the MBSImP seminar as a preparatory course to become familiar with the MBSImP methodology and scoring system. Attendees of the CE seminar will likely be able to complete the online training in a shorter time.

**In addition, those who have attended or will attend Dr. Bonnie Martin-Harris' MBSImP CE seminar will receive a tuition credit good toward enrollment in the MBSImP Web-Based Training. CEUs are offered separately for both the seminar and the web training.

Yes, student MBSImP accounts are available at reduced cost. To enroll, please email Tom at tom@northernspeech.com.

The MBSImP x-ray segments and swallow animations are an ideal supplement to university dysphagia courses as students learn to identify anatomy on x-ray and begin to assess swallow impairment.  Learners on student accounts will have access to the Learning Zone, the Training Zone, and the Reliability Zone of MBSImP.com. However, student learners will not be granted access to the Patient Data and Reports area of MBSImP.com. Students learners are not eligible to become “Registered MBSImP Clinicians.” No CEUs are offered on student accounts. 

Have additional questions? Please email mbsimp@northernspeech.com

For a video preview of the Patient Data & Reports section click here.

Access to this restricted area of MBSImP.com is granted only to those clinicians who have passed the reliability testing and thus achieved the status of Registered MBSImP Clinician. There are no additional fees to access this section.

The Patient Data & Reports area includes online, functional user tools that were designed to be used daily by clinicians to:

• To maintain a database of their patients with dysphagia, consisting of de-identified data that includes diagnoses, MBSImP results, effectiveness of intervention and patient outcomes.
• Generate assessment reports. These editable reports will be detailed and reflective of the study and comply with Joint Commission requirements for documentation.
• Track patient progress and outcomes, and demonstrate evidence for treatment.
• Access online forums for communication with other Registered MBSImP Clinicians around the world.
• Contribute to the first and only international data registry dedicated solely to swallowing dysfunction, providing an adjunct to research that has never existed, until now.

No additional fees apply. This area of MBSImP.com is included with the initial tuition cost.

No. You may continue to submit reports using your hospital's EMR as always. MBSImP scoring data that you collect may be entered into the MBSImP global dysphagia registry at a time that is convenient for you.

Keep in mind that the MBSImP Patient Data & Reports online user tools will generate an assessment report for you. This report will be detailed and reflective of the study and complies with Joint Commission requirements for documentation. Each report can be edited and most EMR systems will allow for importing, uploading or scanning this document into the EMR.

View sample MBSImP report.

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Disclaimer:

The health information stored in this electronic software system meets the requirements of de-identified as stated in 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 164.514b(2)(i) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  The requirements of HIPAA do not apply to health information that has been de-identified [164.502(d)(2)]. Please note the disclosure of a code or other means of record identification designed to enable this de-identified information to be re-identified is prohibited.  A disclosure of a code can be defined as the release, transfer, provision of access to, or divulging in any other manner of a re-identification code outside the entity providing treatment or holding the health information. 

Have additional questions? Please email mbsimp@northernspeech.com