Functional Independence Measure

The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is an assessment tool that aims to evaluate the functional status of patients throughout the rehabilitation process following a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or cancer.[1] Its area of use can include skilled nursing facilities and hospitals aimed at acute, sub-acute and rehabilitation care. Performed on admission to and departure from a rehabilitation hospital, it serves as a consistent data collection tool for the comparison of rehabilitation outcomes across the health care continuum.[1] Furthermore, it aims to allow clinicians to track changes in the functional status of patients from the onset of rehab care through discharge and follow-up. The FIM’s assessment of degree of disability depends on the patient’s score in 18 categories, focusing on motor and cognitive function. Each category or item is rated on a 7-point scale (1 = <25% independence; total assistance required, 7 = 100% independence).[1][2] As such, FIM scores may be interpreted to indicate level of independence or level of burden of care. The scale is used to assess how well a person can carry out basic activities of daily living and thus how dependent he or she will be on help from others.[1] Other areas assessed include the physical like how well patients move and walk, and the cognitive, how well they interact with others, communicate, and process information.[2] FIM was originally made for people who had had strokes, but is used to assess disability in other cases as well.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chumney, Douglas; Nollinger, Kristen; Shesko, Kristina; Skop, Karen; Spencer, Madeleine; Newton, Roberta A. (2010). "Ability of Functional Independence Measure to accurately predict functional outcome of stroke-specific population: Systematic review" (PDF). The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 47 (1): 17–30. doi:10.1682/JRRD.2009.08.0140.
  2. 1 2 3 Furlan, JC; Noonan, V; Singh, A; Fehlings, MG (August 2011). "Assessment of disability in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review of the literature.". Journal of Neurotrauma. 28 (8): 1413–30. doi:10.1089/neu.2009.1148. PMID 20367251.


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