Brief Interview for Mental Status to assess cognitive function.
Interview responses
Cognitive Status
BIMS Score0/ 15
ClassificationSeverely Impaired
Severe cognitive impairment detected. Detailed clinical evaluation required.
Clinical Impression
MDS 3.0 Thresholds
13 - 15Intact
8 - 12Moderate Impairment
0 - 7Severe Impairment
Overview
The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) is a screening tool used to assess cognitive function, primarily in older adults and long-term care settings. It focuses on temporal orientation and immediate/delayed recall to identify potential cognitive impairment or dementia.
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Pro Tips
Administer the interview in a quiet area without distractions.
Ensure the patient can hear you clearly before beginning the repetition and recall tasks.
If the patient cannot repeat the words initially after three attempts, stop the BIMS and use staff observation.
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Fun Facts
"A score of 13-15 is typically considered 'Cognitively Intact'."
"It is mandatory for use in the MDS 3.0 (Minimum Data Set) for nursing home residents."
"Simple category cues (e.g., 'something to wear' for sock) can differentiate between storage and retrieval issues."
"BIMS is more sensitive than staff observation for detecting cognitive deficits."
Formula: Total Score = Sum of Orientation (0-6) and Recall (0-9) points.
