Contemporary measurement methodology

CREcare promotes the use of state-of-the-art functional outcome instruments that were developed by Boston University researchers.   We use contemporary measurement methodology to provide precise, comprehensive and efficient measures.   Our instruments measure functional outcomes in patients with a wide range of abilities and track outcomes as they move along the continuum of post-acute care settings.   Instruments are constructed by developing test items that cover a wide range of function in a particular domain.   For example, the basic mobility domain includes 120 test items that range from ‘moving in bed' to ‘running 5 miles'.  

 

Item Response Theory (IRT) methods are used to determine the relationship between items and scale them along a functional dimension and to position all items on a common numeric scale.   Since all test items are linked on a common scale, our instruments are uniquely suited to track and compare functional outcomes as patients move along a continuum of care settings.   IRT methods address the challenge of precision and comprehensiveness and Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) addresses the need for efficiency.  

 

CAT uses a form of artificial intelligence to select test items that are best suited to an individual patient's functional ability.   With this method an item from the mid-range of the list of functional items is presented first, the subsequent functional items are selected based on the individual's previous responses.   Typically, using CAT technology paired with IRT we can estimate a patient's functional ability with 5-7 items without compromising precision.  

 

The following instruments are available in computerized formats: AM-PAC-CAT™ and PEDI-CAT™

Outcomes monitoring services are available for measures with computerized formats.