Functional Independence Measure

Collection and usage attributes

Patient function is assessed using the FIM™ instrument at the start of a rehabilitation episode of care and at the end of a rehabilitation episode of care. Admission assessment is collected within 72 hours of the start of a rehabilitation episode. Discharge assessment is collected within 72 hours prior to the end of a rehabilitation episode.

FIM™ is comprised of 18 items, grouped into 2 subscales - motor and cognition.

The motor subscale includes:

• Eating
• Grooming
• Bathing
• Dressing, upper body
• Dressing, lower body
• Toileting
• Bladder management
• Bowel management
• Transfers - bed/chair/wheelchair
• Transfers - toilet
• Transfers - bath/shower
• Walk/wheelchair
• Stairs

The cognition subscale includes:

• Comprehension
• Expression
• Social interaction
• Problem solving
• Memory

Each item is scored on a 7 point ordinal scale, ranging from a score of 1 to a score of 7. The higher the score, the more independent the patient is in performing the task associated with that item.

1 - Total assistance with helper

2 - Maximal assistance with helper

3 - Moderate assistance with helper

4 - Minimal assistance with helper

5 - Supervision or setup with helper

6 - Modified independence with no helper

7 - Complete independence with no helper

The total score for the FIM motor subscale (the sum of the individual motor subscale items) will be a value between 13 and 91.

The total score for the FIM cognition subscale (the sum of the individual cognition subscale items) will be a value between 5 and 35.

The total score for the FIM instrument (the sum of the motor and cognition subscale scores) will be a value between 18 and 126.

Source and reference attributes

Independent Hospital Pricing Authority

FIM™ is a trademark of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, a division of UB Foundation Activities Incorporated.

Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre holds the territory license for the use of the FIM™ instrument in Australia.

Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation 2009. The FIM System® Clinical Guide, Version 5.2. Buffalo: UDSMR.

Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre, University of Wollongong 2012. What is the FIM™ Instrument? Viewed 19 September 2012, http://ahsri.uow.edu.au/aroc/whatisfim/index.html

Relational attributes