Which instrument assesses mobility to help predict discharge planning after hospitalization?

• A. Morse Fall Risk Scale
• B. Post Fall Assessment
• C. AMPAC
• D. Barthel Index

Answer: (C)

Predicting discharge planning hinges on how well a patient can move and perform daily tasks. The AM-PAC (Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care) is specifically designed for acute care to gauge mobility and daily activity in a way that helps forecast post-acute needs and discharge destination. It focuses on practical abilities like transfers, walking, and daily activities, providing information that directly informs whether a patient can go home with minimal support, needs home health services, or requires inpatient rehab or skilled nursing facility care. This targeted purpose makes it the best fit for predicting discharge planning after hospitalization.

The fall-risk tools and broader ADL measures aren’t as well aligned with predicting discharge disposition: fall-risk scales assess the likelihood of falling, not post-acute care needs, and while the Barthel Index measures independence in activities of daily living, it’s not specifically calibrated for planning discharge destinations.