Independence Levels

Question 1

Independent (I) Definition

Answer 1

• Patient requires no assistance or supervision from PT or device & is safe & secure to ambulate/complete tasks
• Effort staff provides: 0%
• Effort patient provides: 100%

Question 2

Modified Independence (mod I) definition

Answer 2

• Patient completes task using assisted device (walker, cane, grab bar, bedside commode, or requires extra time to complete a task
• Effort staff provides: 0%
• Effort patient provides: 100%

Question 3

Supervision (S) or Standby Assist (SBA) Definition

Answer 3

• No physical contact from PT or assistant; however due to fall risk or cognitive deficits, PT or assistant should be close to patient to maximize safety or provide verbal cues to complete an activity or assist with set up of task
• Effort staff provides: 0%
• Effort patient provides: 100%

Question 4

Contact Guarding (CGA) definition

Answer 4

• Patient requires light physical contact from PT or assistant (hand placed on back to steady patient w/o physical support, might be due to occasional loss of balance
• Effort staff provides: <5%
• Effort patient provides: >95%

Question 5

Minimal Assistance (Min A) definition

Answer 5

• Patient requires 25% or less physical support or assistance to safely complete task/transfer/ambulation
• Effort staff provides: 25%
• Effort patient provides: 75%

Question 6

Moderate Assistance (Mod A) definition

Answer 6

• Patient requires 50% assistance from PT or assistant to safely complete task/transfer/ambulation
• Effort staff provides: 50%
• Effort patient provides: 50%

Question 7

Maximal Assistance (Max A) definition

Answer 7

• Patient requires 75% assistance or support from staff member to safely complete task/transfer/ambulation
• Effort staff provides: 75%
• Effort patient provides: 25%

Question 8

Dependent (D) Total Assistance (Total A) definition

Answer 8

• Patient requires 100% assistance or support from staff member to complete task/transfer/ambulation
• Effort staff provides: 100%
• Effort patient provides: 0%

Question 9

T/F Not all patients need to wear a gait belt in a hospital, rehab center, skilled nursing facility, long term care facility, or outpatient setting if high risk for falls.

Answer 9

FALSE: ALL patients MUST wear a gait belt in these environments

Question 10

How would multiple person transfers be signified?

Answer 10

• signified by x__
• example: Max A x2 for supine to sit

Question 11

Full weight bearing (FWB) definition

Answer 11

• Full body weight through an extremity

Question 12

Weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT) definition

Answer 12

• As much body weight as patient can tolerate through extremity usually limited by pain or ability

Question 13

Partial weight bearing (PWB) definition

Answer 13

• 50% of body weight through extremity

Question 14

Toe touch weight bearing (TTWB) defintion

Answer 14

• Only toes allowed to touch ground; primarily use limb for balance ~25% of body

Question 15

Heel touch weight bearing definition

Answer 15

• Only allow heel to touch ground; primarily use heel for balance ~25% of body

Question 16

Non weight bearing (NWB) definition

Answer 16

• No weight at all is allowed through the extremity and do not allow extremity to touch support surface