The FIM™ instrument has been widely embraced within the field of medical rehabilitation as a measure of functional status and disability, as well as a measure reflecting the minutes of care necessary to support a person with disability in his/her activities of daily living. Widespread endorsement of the FIM™ instrument within the field of medical rehabilitation has provided a consistent broad use of uniform terminology to communicate about a patient's level of disability. In addition to providing the basis for a method of communication among rehabilitation professionals, the FIM™ instrument has also been incorporated into the nation's largest repository of data on rehabilitation outcomes, known as The Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR).

UDSMR has used the FIM™ instrument as the basis of facility-specific rehabilitation outcomes reports containing national and regional comparison standards. In year 2002, more than 800 comprehensive medical rehabilitation facilities/units and over 130 subacute rehabilitation units in the U.S. subscribed to UDSMR for outcomes reporting. The FIM™ instrument has also been implemented as the national Prospective Payment System for inpatient medical rehabilitation.

The Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, a division of UB Foundation Activities Inc., is the developer and sole owner of the copyrighted assessment tool known as the FIM™ Instrument. As the owner, UDSMR only grants permission to use the FIM™ instrument though a variety of licensing arrangements. The intended use of the instrument dictates the level of licensure and the associated rights and fees.

As part of our services, we are able to offer the following options for use of the FIM™ instrument:

Research
1. A limited research letter of agreement for the purposes of conducting research at the undergraduate or graduate level is available.

2. A limited research license agreement for the purposes of conducting large-scale research activities and collaborative research projects involving multiple centers is also available.

For additional information click on the RESEARCH tab on our website. There are fees associated with these agreements.

Facility Subscriptions
Annual licensure allow access to the FIM™ instrument and its data collection software application, FIMware® software, training and credentialing, and U.S. benchmarks. There are fees associated with this agreement.

Territorial Licenses

Training and Distribution
1. For the purposes for marketing and distributing FIM™ materials and provision of FIM™ training to UDSMR subscribers within your country.

2. For the purposes of developing the FIM System® within your country. The license would allow you to market, distribute FIM™ materials, provide FIM™ training.

There are fees associated with this agreement.

Database
For the purposes of developing aggregate data, and provide statistical reports to other facilities within your country that wish to use the FIM™ instrument.

Pilot Project for Clinical Use
A limited license would enable you to implement. The FIM System® within your facility to determine its clinical usefulness. The license would be granted for a defined period of time with the expectation that a longer-term relationship would be developed. There are fees associated with this agreement.

Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE)

If you would like to discuss any of these options in greater detail, please contact Beth Christiansen by email at bchristiansen@udsmr.org or by telephone at (716) 817-7880.