Functional measures, Part 1: What is function, what should we measure, and how should we measure it?

O ccupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and physicians all share a common concern with promoting functional independence of their clients. In addition, members of each profession might administer functional assessments or implement interventions intended to enhance the functional independence of their clients. This often makes us uneasy or results in role conflicts, but it need not. What makes us different is not our shared concern with, or ownership of, the client's problem. What makes us different is our perspective on the problem, and it is our unique perspective on function that we own. Indeed, the unique perspective that occupational therapists have on function is one that can be clearly differentiated from those of physical therapy, nursing, social work, psychology, or medicine. Moreover, haVing a clear understanding of how we are similar to, and different from, our colleagues Within these related disciples enables us to use and develop functional assessments that focus our evaluation on the client's problem from the perspective of our own unique professional frame.