Evaluation of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (including the Functional Independence Measure) by Glenrothes Geriatric Day Hospital Team

Abstract

The need for a patient data collecting system was identified by the geriatric day hospital team in Glenrothes. The Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (Including the Functional Independence Measure) was selected for this purpose. Its operational acceptability was assessed after using it to collect data on a series of 50 patients. This was done via a questionnaire completed jointly by the team after each patient data sheet had been completed. The team — including an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, a charge nurse and a doctor — was satisfied overall with the Uniform Data System and the data collected. It identified several operational problems, but these could be overcome through further training, greater familiarity with the system and more appropriate operational definitions.

The results of this study should assist the day hospital team to proceed systematically in selecting a suitable patient data system for day hospital use. The results could also be of interest to other community and hospital care of the elderly staff who are considering the implementation of a patient data collecting system.

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