Functional Independence Measure

Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is a scale that assesses the level of a patient's disability and indicates how much assistance is required for the individual to carry out activities of daily living. This measure was developed by a task force of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Overview

The Functional Independence Measure is used to track the progress of a patient during hospital stay and throughout rehabilitation. The FIM score is often used to predict the amount of resources required for care, such as caregiver burden, home healthcare needs, and long-term care placement.

Components

The FIM consists of 18 items, divided into two sections:

1. Motor Section: This includes 13 items related to self-care, sphincter control, transfers, and locomotion.
2. Cognitive Section: This includes 5 items related to communication and social cognition.

Each item is scored on a scale of 1 (total assistance required) to 7 (complete independence).

Scoring

The total score can range from 18 (lowest level of function) to 126 (highest level of function). The motor subscale ranges from 13 to 91, and the cognitive subscale ranges from 5 to 35.

Use in Rehabilitation

The FIM is widely used in rehabilitation medicine to assess progress during rehabilitation. It is particularly useful in stroke rehabilitation, where it can help to track recovery and predict outcomes.

Limitations

While the FIM is a useful tool, it has some limitations. It may not be sensitive enough to detect small changes in function, particularly in patients with severe disabilities. It also does not assess quality of life or participation in society.

See Also

• Disability
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Stroke Rehabilitation