[The use of assessment instruments in the rehabilitation of accident victims]

Abstract

Within the course of rehabilitation management the Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG) has started to measure the outcomes to assure the quality of rehabilitation processes using assessment instruments. The measures included some aspects of activity and participation in accordance with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The present paper describes the generic and condition-specific instruments used in the this study to assess the health-related quality-of-life, discusses their selection and illustrates their incorporation into management practice. The assessment process constitutes a consistent system to prove the effects of rehabilitation and their persistence. The first experience shows that the assessment-based quality management system can be recommended for permanent modelling of structures, processes and outcomes to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation.