PICA Training
Introduction
The PORCH INDEX OF COMMUNICATIVE ABILITY requires the tester to administer the battery in a precise, standardized way and to see and quantify details in the patients response behavior multidimensionally. Although Volume 2 of the PICA manuals describes test administration and scoring in detail, the great diversity among patients and their response behavior has made it necessary to provide some form of supervised training for the clinician who wants to use the test reliably and who hopes to interpret the test results with precision and accuracy.
Few, if any, clinicians have been able to master the use of the PICA by only studying the manuals. Some have learned it through diligent study of the manuals accompanied by the observations, demonstrations and supervision of a qualified trained clinician. Most clinicians have been trained through concentrated forty-hour workshops or by taking a college course on the use of the PICA. These courses involve discussions on PICA theory, standardized test administration, and multidimensional scoring. This is then followed by practice supervised test administration and the scoring of a large variety of patient's videotaped tests. Toward the end of the course each participant scores a standard reliability tape of a variety of patients demonstrating a wide range of response behaviors. A detailed analysis of the results of scoring this tape gives each course participant a clear description of their scoring accuracy and advises what areas need further study for maximally accurate test use. The course concludes with a consideration of test interpretation and the application of PICA results to the localization of lesions, prognosis, differential diagnosis, medical- legal issues, and treatment.
Training options
IN-HOUSE TRAINING: For the clinicians who would like to become trained in the use of the PICA, diligent and detailed study of the manuals, observations of live or videotaped PICAs being given, and direct supervision and training by a qualified PICA user is recommended as a minimum. A poorly administered and scored test is a waste of the clinician's time and violates the patient's best interests. In contrast, a well-administered, accurately scored PICA can contribute greatly to the patient's care.
WORKSHOPS: PICA PROGRAMS periodically offers the concentrated PICA workshops in Albuquerque and in various parts of the country. The clinician who wants training has several options: 1) It is possible to register your interest in training with PICA PROGRAMS so that you can be advised about courses as they develop. This can be done by sending the PICA Training Form below so you can be notified of training programs as they occur. 2) You can organize a workshop at your facility or in your area. This allows you to select the place, times and dates of the course so it will best fit your schedule and it enables several staff members to be trained at the same time. More information about this option is found on the PICA Training Form. 3) A third option will be available in the future. Work is in progress to computerize PICA training so that the individual clinician can train at their own speed and convenience. Information on progress in the development of such training will be provided periodically on this web site.
COMPUTERIZED TRAINING: A computerized PICA training program will is available to clinicians who want training but are unable to host or travel to a workshop.
A DIRECTORY OF TRAINED PICA USERS AND QUALIFIED TRAINERS.
PICA PROGRAMS will be maintaining a directory for clinicians who have been trained and qualified and who are interested in supervising or teaching the test to untrained clinicians*. In this way, an untrained clinician may be able to find a qualified tester in their local area who can assist in the learning of the PICA. It also may be possible for one to find a trained instructor in your region to give a sanctioned workshop as a college course or as a workshop spread over a period of time.
*Trained clinicians who would like to be listed in the directory should contact PICA PROGRAMS to request a Directory Information Sheet.
The PORCH INDEX OF COMMUNICATIVE ABILITY requires the tester to administer the battery in a precise, standardized way and to see and quantify details in the patients response behavior multidimensionally. Although Volume 2 of the PICA manuals describes test administration and scoring in detail, the great diversity among patients and their response behavior has made it necessary to provide some form of supervised training for the clinician who wants to use the test reliably and who hopes to interpret the test results with precision and accuracy.
Few, if any, clinicians have been able to master the use of the PICA by only studying the manuals. Some have learned it through diligent study of the manuals accompanied by the observations, demonstrations and supervision of a qualified trained clinician. Most clinicians have been trained through concentrated forty-hour workshops or by taking a college course on the use of the PICA. These courses involve discussions on PICA theory, standardized test administration, and multidimensional scoring. This is then followed by practice supervised test administration and the scoring of a large variety of patient's videotaped tests. Toward the end of the course each participant scores a standard reliability tape of a variety of patients demonstrating a wide range of response behaviors. A detailed analysis of the results of scoring this tape gives each course participant a clear description of their scoring accuracy and advises what areas need further study for maximally accurate test use. The course concludes with a consideration of test interpretation and the application of PICA results to the localization of lesions, prognosis, differential diagnosis, medical- legal issues, and treatment.
Training options
IN-HOUSE TRAINING: For the clinicians who would like to become trained in the use of the PICA, diligent and detailed study of the manuals, observations of live or videotaped PICAs being given, and direct supervision and training by a qualified PICA user is recommended as a minimum. A poorly administered and scored test is a waste of the clinician's time and violates the patient's best interests. In contrast, a well-administered, accurately scored PICA can contribute greatly to the patient's care.
WORKSHOPS: PICA PROGRAMS periodically offers the concentrated PICA workshops in Albuquerque and in various parts of the country. The clinician who wants training has several options: 1) It is possible to register your interest in training with PICA PROGRAMS so that you can be advised about courses as they develop. This can be done by sending the PICA Training Form below so you can be notified of training programs as they occur. 2) You can organize a workshop at your facility or in your area. This allows you to select the place, times and dates of the course so it will best fit your schedule and it enables several staff members to be trained at the same time. More information about this option is found on the PICA Training Form. 3) A third option will be available in the future. Work is in progress to computerize PICA training so that the individual clinician can train at their own speed and convenience. Information on progress in the development of such training will be provided periodically on this web site.
COMPUTERIZED TRAINING: A computerized PICA training program will is available to clinicians who want training but are unable to host or travel to a workshop.
A DIRECTORY OF TRAINED PICA USERS AND QUALIFIED TRAINERS.
PICA PROGRAMS will be maintaining a directory for clinicians who have been trained and qualified and who are interested in supervising or teaching the test to untrained clinicians*. In this way, an untrained clinician may be able to find a qualified tester in their local area who can assist in the learning of the PICA. It also may be possible for one to find a trained instructor in your region to give a sanctioned workshop as a college course or as a workshop spread over a period of time.
*Trained clinicians who would like to be listed in the directory should contact PICA PROGRAMS to request a Directory Information Sheet.