TIMS Medical Releases TIMS MVP 4.5 Featuring Integration with the
MBSImP Scoring Standard for Modified Barium Swallow Studies

(Chelmsford, MA – April 5, 2022) TIMS Medical announces the release of TIMS MVP 4.5, the company’s latest iteration of its flagship product for recording, editing, reviewing, and archiving medical imaging studies in high resolution video with synced audio. Previewed in late 2021 at the ASHA and RSNA conferences, TIMS MVP 4.5 is now available to customers performing Modified Barium Swallow (MBS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and general endoscopy studies.

TIMS MVP 4.5 adds new capabilities for standardized (MBSImP, DIGEST, PAS, FOIS) and custom scoring, measurement, live streaming video for collaboration, and other workflow improvements to the list of sophisticated tools that thousands of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), radiologists, and other medical professionals rely on daily for recording, reviewing, editing, and diagnosing imaging studies of patients with speech and swallowing disorders.

TIMS MVP 4.5 Support for the MBSImP Standardized Protocol:
TIMS MVP 4.5 now includes a frequently requested built-in scoring overlay to integrate the use of the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP), a standardized and validated protocol to interpret and communicate swallowing impairment in a manner that is specific, consistent, accurate, and objective.  With TIMS MVP 4.5, the entire MBSImP protocol is available on-demand as an overlay within the TIMS MVP software interface, allowing the SLP to quickly and accurately “score” the study while reviewing the study in high resolution video with synced audio.  Completed scorecards can be instantly exported as elegantly formatted tables for inclusion in reports and EMR systems. Additionally, anonymized MBSImP scorecards can be easily uploaded to the MBSImP database and converted to a standard express assessment report for inclusion in the EMR. Scorecards uploaded to the MBSImP database also contribute data to support the field through ongoing research in swallowing function, analysis, treatment, and outcomes.

“I first met the TIMS team at the Charleston Swallowing Conference in 2013.  Since then, TIMS has been consistently interested in promoting the use of evidence-based standards to advance the implementation and analysis of swallowing studies toward improved patient care.  Their work with our team, along with Bracco and Northern Speech Services, has advanced the accuracy and reproducibility of exams through use of standards such as high resolution video at 30 frames per second, synced audio, consistent and measurable contrast media, and objective scoring protocols made easily accessible to trained speech-language pathologists and their patients.  I look forward to seeing even more adherence to validated standard practices in swallowing assessment as a result of these collaborative advances by TIMS Medical,” said Bonnie Martin-Harris, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Director and Principal Researcher, Swallowing Cross-Systems Collaborative, Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).

“As facilitator of the MBSImP Training course, which provides the online learning platform by which SLPs demonstrate their reliability and competency in application of the MBSImP protocol, we are excited to work with TIMS Medical to help advance the use of this important standardized protocol for interpreting swallow studies. This integration and its efficiency enables more MBSImP-trained SLPs to implement this standardized assessment into their busy practices, and helps promote the need for adhering to consistency in patient care and diagnosis,” said Thomas Slominski, MA, CCC-SLP – President, Northern Speech Services (Gaylord, MI).

“It was a pleasure to work closely with Dr. Bonnie Martin-Harris and her impressive team to integrate the MBSImP protocol into our TIMS MVP software.  Previously, SLPs had to inefficiently switch between two separate software programs to review and interpret MBS studies using standardized scoring protocols.  For several years, customers have been asking us to make this easier and more efficient.  As a result of our collaboration with Dr. Martin-Harris, we have delivered this huge productivity gain for our customers.  Further, with our anonymized link to the MBSImP database, SLPs can optionally provide valuable swallowing impairment data to the extensive MBSImP database which supports important ongoing research to help improve outcomes for patients with swallowing disorders.  We are delighted to play a small part in helping advance patient care via this collaboration with Dr. Martin-Harris and her team,” said Tony Molinari, VP Sales & Marketing for TIMS Medical.