Functional Independence Measure
A standardized 18-item clinical tool used to assess a patient's level of disability and the burden of care during inpatient rehabilitation.
Full Definition
The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is an 18-item ordinal scale used widely in rehabilitation settings to quantify a patient's functional status across motor and cognitive domains. Each item is scored from 1 (total assistance) to 7 (complete independence), yielding a maximum score of 126. It is used to track rehabilitation progress, justify continued inpatient stay, and guide discharge planning. Editors encountering FIM in clinical reports should note it is always capitalised as a proper noun and typically accompanied by a numeric score. It should not be confused with the Barthel Index, which covers a narrower range of activities.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out in full on first use, followed by the parenthetical abbreviation FIM. Do not lower-case 'Functional Independence Measure' mid-sentence.
In Context
- "At admission, the patient's Functional Independence Measure score was 62, rising to 98 at discharge." — Inpatient rehabilitation progress note
- "FIM scores were recorded by trained therapists at weekly intervals throughout the program." — Clinical research methods section