iSCR: Raising the bar in cognitive rehabilitation

Natalie MacKenzie is director of cognitive rehabilitation specialists, BIS Services.

Newly appointed as chair of the International Society for Cognitive Rehabilitation (iSCR) board, Natalie lays out her short and longer term goals for the society, from increasing awareness of cognitive rehabilitation to improving global collaboration.

As newly appointed chair of The International Society for Cognitive Rehabilitation (iSCR) board, my primary goals include growing the membership base, increasing certification of cognitive rehabilitation therapists, and enhancing the organisation's visibility to improve access to services and resources.

The iSCR is bringing together a diverse range of experts in cognitive rehabilitation to increase awareness.

We believe that every multidisciplinary team and in every kind of therapy, members should be aware of the different elements of cognitive rehabilitation when working with people with neurological disorders, brain injury and other types of disorders such as mental health issues.

We have established a set of standards, ethics and bylaws to promote the professionalism of cognitive rehab, because we believe that a range of different therapies and professions should all be utilising cognitive rehabilitation. 

As an organisation we aim to educate, supervise and facilitate cross-learning through different professions around the globe about best practices and how to implement cognitive rehab into all packages of rehab effectively.

To do this, since being appointed in my role as chair, I have been forming an international committee, which now features members from the UK, America, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, and Spain. 

Together, we have been drawing from experiences in different parts of the world, as cognitive rehabilitation is viewed differently depending on location, to look at different elements such as what statutory requirements are, what insurance requirements are, and what funding pots are for medical care.

We want to bring together experience from those different areas, such as what real life, on the ground experience is, in delivering cognitive rehabilitation. 

Currently there is a large disparity between research into cognitive rehabilitation and how it should be delivered, versus how it is practically delivered clinically. 

We will be working to bridge that gap and working alongside not only those doing the research, but also those working in clinical roles in people's homes or in acute settings.

The committee brings together international experts across a variety of backgrounds such as speech and language therapists, pathologists, psychologists, neurologists, neuro psychiatrists, general practitioners, general physicians, and experts from the education sector, as well as people with lived experience of brain injury.

As healthcare systems across the globe provide different levels of access to healthcare, the ICSR will be working to bring together these expert insights and patients experiences to improve healthcare accessibility. 

We want to ensure that the rehabilitation that people need is being delivered, and to work with professionals and researchers to get a better understanding of what services are available.

The iSCR has joined the IBIA (International Brain Injury Association) umbrella, joining other working groups such as NABIS, IPBI, Pink Concussion and DOC SIG to ensure high standard and cross collaborations across all groups to enhance outcomes for the patients and clients we all serve.

This is an exciting time for the iSCR to be able to align with all groups high standards, ethics and commitment to bridging the gap between research and clinical appliction.

We will be working collaboratively to raise awareness of what's needed in brain injury rehabilitation and bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.

We will also be joining together to raise public awareness among the public to understand that these resources are out there. 

We want to highlight that cognitive rehabilitation has been seen as an adjunct, rather than an approach in itself, as we believe there is huge efficacy and great outcomes that come from tailored, focused cognitive rehabilitation. 

From my perspective, as a Director of BIS Services Cognitive Rehabilitation, it needs to be part of every rehab package.

As these organisations join together, we will be working to create a more standardised service delivery, and highlighting that cognitive rehabilitation is adaptable to be delivered by competent professionals in any area of therapy, so long as they meet the standards.

Learn more about BIS Services at thebiss.co.uk

Information on the iSCR can be found at societyforcognitiverehab.org