Development of an outcome assessment and informational system for physical therapy. A multi-institutional project

The profession of physical therapy needs an outcome assessment and informational system developed specifically for it. The goal-oriented assessment system and data collection procedures which use electronic data processing are an attempt to satisfy that need. The purpose of this project was to demonstrate that an electronic data processing of physical therapy services system could be adapted and implemented on a multi-institutional basis. Physical therapy departments in four community general hospitals in New Jersey implemented the program by applying the data base to all discharged patients during a six-month period. The program was again modified at the conclusion of actual use so that the requirements of all participating institutions would be satisfied. This outcome assessment and informational system can contribute to objective evaluation of physical therapy care.