Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 2000;14:127-134 © 2000 Demos Medical Publishing Initial Functional Independence Measure Score and Interval Post Stroke Help Assess Outcome, Length of Hospitalization, and Quality of Care

Objective: This study tests the hypothesis that the rehabilitation hospital admis-sion functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and interval post stroke can be used to define clinically relevant functional recovery goals, estimate length of stay,and com-pare quality of care. Background: The effects of time from stroke to rehabilitation unit admission on admission and discharge FIM scores, length of rehabilitation stay, and change in FIM score/day have not yet been reported. Methods: Analysis was based on prospectively collected data from patients admitted to an inpatient stroke rehabilita-tion unit with FIM scores ss 90 and an initial, unilateral, hemispheric, thrombotic, or embolic stroke who were fully independent without the use of an assistive device be-fore their stroke. Patients with severe (admission FIM < 54) and moderate (admission FIM 54-90) stroke deficits were divided into cohorts based on interval from stroke t