Functioning is the primary outcome of rehabilitation. Currently functioning outcomes are collected with a variety of assessment tools. Unless standards for reporting are in place, data derived from various assessment tools has only applicability within the individual clinical encounter, but cannot be aggregated across and within institutions, thus, lack comparability. Consequently, there is a need for a standardized reporting system to ensure that functioning information can be aggregated, compared, made available for decision-making and continuous improvement at individual, institutional and national levels. The aim is to develop and implement a standardised reporting system for national quality improvement in Swiss rehabilitation, accounting for different assessment tools used for functioning information.

We build upon existing data collected for Swiss national quality monitoring to derive a harmonized data set irrespective of the assessment tool used, based on a conceptually and psychometrically-sound system for standardized reporting of functioning outcomes. Change in functioning status within and across health condition groups, and its determinants, throughout the rehabilitation process will be identified. ICF linking rules, Rasch Measurement Theory and regression modelling will be used. The results will be presented to relevant stakeholders conducting Stakeholder Dialogues to develop strategies of how such a system can be implemented for quality improvement.

30 Swiss rehabilitation clinics participate in the project using either the assessment tools FIM®, Barthel Index, or Health Assessment Questionnaire. First results will be available in April. This poster aims to outline the project–its background, methodology and clinical relevance.

First, this project recognizes the important role of functioning as primary health outcome in rehabilitation. Second, the standardized reporting system enables clinicians to maintain their existing data collection practice, while at the same time being able to aggregate and compare information. Third, this project builds upon a learning system, with emphasis on transparency and stakeholder engagement.