Monitored dressing evaluation.
The ability to measure changes in self care status for patients with cardiovascular disease is difficult to quantify since their independence is usually not limited by the need for physical assistance. Instead, limitations may include changes in vital signs that indicate excessive workload for the cardiovascular system, abnormally slow work pace, or inability to perform other tasks due to fatigue after self care is completed. Typical parameters that have been used to measure improvement in work tolerance, such as the ability to work for longer periods of time at progressively higher workloads, do not apply to self care. The purpose of this paper is to describe a monitored dressing evaluation that includes a scale to grade functional work tolerance. The scoring system provides a more objective way than usually available to measure improvements in tolerance for dressing. It is especially useful for the patient at a low level of functioning.
Supervisor of Occupational Therapy, Cardiac Unit, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, NY.
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