Abstract
This article defines the steps toward choosing a functional assessment measure for the adult brain-injured population. The questions to ask in choosing an appropriate scale are described, reflecting individual facility needs. Seventeen criteria for determining the attributes a scale requires for your program are discussed. General scales available that meet most of the criteria are described and rated on the seventeen attributes. Additional scales are also listed by area of emphasis. Some single-concept outcome measures are defined, such as length of program stay, charges, and discharge disposition. These can be alternatives or supplements to functional scale information in a database. Future work must reflect the need for greater reliability and validity testing of existing scales, and a consideration for practical approaches to data collection in resource-limited environments.
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