outcomes: measuring progress

Evidence-based clinical outcome measures are used to assess and monitor the progress of our residents. These include:

• The Functional Independence Measure/ Functional Assessment Measure (FIM/FAM)

• Goal Attainment Scale (GAS)

• Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS)

• Northwick Park Dependency Scale (NPDS)

• Northwick Park Care Needs Assessment (NPCNA)

• The Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS)

We can also undertake the Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART), and similar assessments for those in persistent vegetative or minimally conscious states.

We collect information about patient’s care needs, mobility, cognition, communication and engagement in daily living tasks on admission. This is reviewed throughout their stay and on discharge to identify and monitor progress and change as a result of rehabilitation. We use national clinically recognised tools to assess and monitor this progress including the Functional Independent Measure-Functional Assessment Measure (FIM-FAM), the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), the Northwick Park Dependency Score (NPDS-H) and the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS).

As per our Clinical Care Pathway, the Multidisciplinary team uses a goal oriented approach with the MDT, patients and families working toward appropriate rehabilitation goals. Goals will always be patient centred are set using the GAS, which is a method of scoring the extent to which patients’ individual goals are achieved during rehabilitation/intervention.

The NPDS-H provides an assessment of care and nursing needs in a rehabilitation setting and translates directly into an assessment of care hours required and costs of providing care in the community.

The RCS is used as a simple measure of the complexity of an individual’s rehabilitation needs. This takes into account basic care, specialist nursing, therapy input and medical interventions required.