Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique
SMART is a comprehensive assessment and treatment tool developed specifically for identifying awareness in vegetative state (VS) or minimally conscious state (MCS) patients following severe brain injury.

Patients in low awareness states are often difficult to diagnose. Their behaviour may suggest they are not aware of themselves or their environment. Unless provided with a comprehensive and structured assessment, meaningful responses can be missed, leading to misdiagnosis.

SMART was developed at the RHN to provide an extensive range of techniques which offer the patient the best opportunity to demonstrate their awareness and communicate their needs, thus increasing their quality of life. The tool provides a standardised approach to ensuring that all potential abilities are fully explored; functional and communication capacity is optimised; an accurate diagnosis is made and an effective rehabilitation programme formulated.

How does SMART WORK?
An accredited assessor uses a range of techniques to analyse the patient’s behaviour and wakefulness. The assessor records the patient’s response to a structured sensory programme designed to stimulate vision, hearing, taste, touch and smell, and gauge motor and function potential.

SMART uses informal and formal observation, for example the scoring system provides objective, comparable quantitative information, while valuable observations and feedback from family, friends and other members of the multidisciplinary team are also taken into account. A wide range of assessments ensures a high level of accuracy and means that quality and meaning of responses – as well as changes over time – can be recorded.

More information

• SMART FAQs for healthcare professionals (210k pdf)
• SMART FAQs for patient’s family or carer (240k)
• SMART FAQs for legal professionals (130k pdf)