Supporting Quantitative Data with TIMS
Photo of Jo in the radiology suite with her TIMS cart.
Over the past several years, our team has had the incredible honor of collaborating with Jo Puntil, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S and her team. Jo is a highly respected leader in the field of Speech-Pathology, with expertise in swallowing, communication, and cognitive disorders in Intensive Care. As an ASHA Fellow and former chair of the Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC), she has made significant contributions to the profession. Jo has an extensive background in national/international lecturing and has a strong presence on platforms such as MedBridge and TIMS, where she offers several educational courses. With over 35 years of experience, she has been instrumental in developing interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs focusing on critical and acute care settings. Her numerous honors and publications reflect a deep dedication to advancing knowledge and clinical practice in acute care, making her a valuable resource for both clinicians and researchers in the field.
When asked about the use of TIMS in her practice Jo said, “I have been performing Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) procedures for over three decades. Over the years, the field has evolved significantly, shifting from subjective impressions to more objective, evidence-based assessments. The TIMS system is far superior to simply reviewing cine loops on platforms like PACS or Visage. Its ability to tag consistencies of what is presented and document compensatory strategies for each consistency is invaluable. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I can return to my office and review studies in slow motion, measure pharyngeal residue, and apply objective scoring using tools such as MBSImp, DIGEST, and REST. I particularly appreciate using DIGEST because it provides clear safety and efficiency scores for each patient. No longer do I have to rely solely on subjective judgment to determine whether a patient has mild, moderate, or severe dysphagia. TIMS quantifies these scores, supporting evidence-based decision-making in our clinical practice. Our entire Speech Team thinks this tool is invaluable and we cannot imagine not having this recording, note taking and quantifying measurements device.”
We are grateful to collaborate with Jo and sincerely appreciate her dedication to the field of speech-language pathology.