Boston University Activity Measure-Post Acute Care
(AM-PAC™)
Computer-based Formats
State-of-the-Art Computerized Outcome Measure
The Computer-based AM-PAC draws from a comprehensive test item bank that consists of 249 items. Test items cover a range of function in three domains: basic mobility, daily activities, and applied cognitive. Items are scaled along a continuum of item difficulty (mean = 50 + 10). AM-PAC computer-based formats use computer adaptive testing (CAT) to select specific test items from the item bank. The computer program uses a patient's prior responses to select additional items that match the individual patient's functional ability. In this manner, a precise estimate of a patient's function is obtained with a few well-selected test items. Learn more about how the AM-PAC CAT was developed.
Computer-based AM-PAC: Advantages
- Reduces test burden while increasing test precision because test items are selected to match the patient's functional ability level.
- Patients are not required to respond to irrelevant test items.
- Easy to integrate assessment into clinical work flow.
- Promotes efficient and reliable data entry, analysis and management. AM-PAC data, along with patient data (age, gender, diagnosis, time since onset, surgical status, severity and insuranc), are entered and stored in a database on the local computer or on a server.
- Only takes 2 minutes to complete each domain.
- Can include patient satisfaction questions.
- Staging charts show the expected performance based on AM-PAC scores- view
Easy to use
Step-by-step instructions guide users through the assessment process. A screen with background information questions is completed. Then individual functional test items (see example on the left) are displayed on the screen with a of response choices listed below. The respondent uses a mouse, keystroke or stylus to select the correct answer and continues to the next question.
Admission CAT data are stored. When the patient logs on to the system again, the program recognizes the patient. Only questions about background information that may have changed, for example walking status, are asked and followup or discharge data are stored.
CREcare provides free training for staff to learn how to use the AM-PAC CAT
Available in different fomats
Stand-alone personal computer (PC) version
This option is best suited for individual clinical sites where data are entered on a single computer.
This option is ideal for organizations with multiple clinical sites or multiple computers.