conducting-functional-assessments

name	conducting-functional-assessments
language	en
description	Structures functional capacity evaluation with standardized measures and activity limitation documentation. Use when assessing functional status, measuring mobility, or documenting activity levels.
tags	["process","rehabilitation-medicine","valuation"]
metadata	{"author":"casemark","practice_areas":["Physical Therapy","Occupational Therapy","Rehabilitation Medicine"],"document_types":["Process Documentation"],"skill_modes":["Process Management"]}

Conducting Functional Assessments

Structures functional capacity evaluation using standardized instruments including the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Barthel Index, and Katz ADL Index. Produces defensible documentation of activity limitations and participation restrictions aligned with the ICF framework.

Why This Skill Exists

Functional assessments are the evidentiary backbone of rehabilitation medicine. They determine admission eligibility for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), justify continued therapy to payers, establish baselines for treatment planning, and measure discharge readiness. CMS requires IRF-PAI (Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument) data for reimbursement under the IRF PPS. Poorly documented functional status leads to claim denials, CARF accreditation findings, and indefensible medicolegal records. This skill enforces standardized measurement selection, proper administration, and legally sound documentation.