Citation

Forrest GP, Chen E, Huss S, Giesler A. Rehabil. Nurs. 2013; 38(4): 186-192.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Association of Rehabilitation Nursing, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/rnj.86

PMID

23720418

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is as useful as the Morse Fall Scale in determining which patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) are at highest risk for fall. METHOD: Review of the charts of all patients admitted to an IRF in calendar year 2010. FINDINGS: Low scores on the FIM are as useful as high scores on the MFS in suggesting that a patient is at high risk for fall. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nursing staffs that use the FIM to comply with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) documentation requirements likely do not benefit by also evaluating and documenting the patients' score on the MFS.

Language: en