TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuropsychological assessment in the Israeli healthcare system
T2 - A practitioners' survey
AU - Kavé, Gitit
AU - Bloch, Ayala
AU - Shabi, Adi
AU - Maril, Sari
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s).
PY - 2020/9/14
Y1 - 2020/9/14
N2 - Background: The current study examines self-reported professional practices and attitudes of Israeli neuropsychologists, in an attempt to understand how they contribute to funding of neuropsychological assessment (NPA) through the Israeli healthcare system. Methods: Two hundred seventy-nine neuropsychologists (176 board-certified experts and 103 interns) participated in an online survey that targeted characteristics of NPA practice in Israel, attitudes toward NPA, and familiarity with healthcare referral procedures. Results: Overall, 68% of respondents conducted NPA, with a smaller proportion of experts (56%) doing so than interns (88%). The most common purpose of NPA was to provide treatment recommendations, and respondents listed indications for NPA that matched indications for neuropsychological rehabilitation. Almost two thirds of respondents reported that none of the NPAs that they performed received healthcare funding. While all practitioners believed that the healthcare system should fund NPA, the majority demonstrated lack of familiarity with referral procedures. Conclusions: To increase referral rates and create effective neuropsychological services within the Israeli healthcare system, neuropsychologists should work more closely with physicians in integrated care teams. In addition, they should engage in greater advocacy activities that will emphasize the need for publicly funded NPA.
AB - Background: The current study examines self-reported professional practices and attitudes of Israeli neuropsychologists, in an attempt to understand how they contribute to funding of neuropsychological assessment (NPA) through the Israeli healthcare system. Methods: Two hundred seventy-nine neuropsychologists (176 board-certified experts and 103 interns) participated in an online survey that targeted characteristics of NPA practice in Israel, attitudes toward NPA, and familiarity with healthcare referral procedures. Results: Overall, 68% of respondents conducted NPA, with a smaller proportion of experts (56%) doing so than interns (88%). The most common purpose of NPA was to provide treatment recommendations, and respondents listed indications for NPA that matched indications for neuropsychological rehabilitation. Almost two thirds of respondents reported that none of the NPAs that they performed received healthcare funding. While all practitioners believed that the healthcare system should fund NPA, the majority demonstrated lack of familiarity with referral procedures. Conclusions: To increase referral rates and create effective neuropsychological services within the Israeli healthcare system, neuropsychologists should work more closely with physicians in integrated care teams. In addition, they should engage in greater advocacy activities that will emphasize the need for publicly funded NPA.
KW - Cognitive evaluation
KW - Neuropsychological assessment
KW - Neuropsychological evaluation
KW - Neuropsychological practice
KW - Neuropsychological rehabilitation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091053731&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13584-020-00403-3
DO - 10.1186/s13584-020-00403-3
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C2 - 32928292
AN - SCOPUS:85091053731
SN - 2045-4015
VL - 9
JO - Israel Journal of Health Policy Research
JF - Israel Journal of Health Policy Research
IS - 1
M1 - 46
ER -