What is RIC-FAS?

You may not be familiar with RIC-FAS, but we at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida certainly are. That’s because NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida is the pre-eminent post-acute rehabilitation facility in Florida. We render innovative, clinically relevant post-acute rehabilitation to individuals who have sustained a variety of catastrophic injuries. The injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Mild brain injuries (MBI)
• Catastrophic injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents (MVA)
• Multiple trauma
• Neurologic injuries
• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Traumatic amputations
• Work-related injuries

The outgrowths of the catastrophic injuries can be multiple and varied, including:

• Behavioral dysfunction
• Cognitive deficits
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome
• Neurologic changes requiring neurorehabilitation
• Conditions requiring expertise in challenging diagnoses
• The need for outcome tracking
• Requirements for both long and short-term care

Because the goal of NeuLife Rehab is helping our Clients achieve independence to the maximum degree that their physical and mental capabilities permit, it is important that objective measures are used to gauge progress. Among those measures is one that is known by the acronym of RIC-FAS. RIC-FAS stands for Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Functional Assessment Scale and is widely known, used, and respected.

RIC-FAS is an evaluation and testing device that NeuLife uses to evaluate Client function in various areas. Representative functionalities within those areas are shown parenthetically:

• Medical management (including urinary management, bowel management, skin status, chewing and swallowing)
• Health maintenance (patient/caregiver education, support network, housing, finances)
• Self-care (eating, bathing, dressing, toileting)
• Mobility (transfers, locomotion, bed mobility, wheelchair use)
• Communication (auditory, written, speech production)
• Cognitive (problem solving, memory, behavior control)
• Psycho-social (anxiety, depression, interpersonal skills)
• Community integration (recreation, meal preparation, cleaning, clothing care)
• Vocational rehabilitation (vocational goal setting, work behavior, employability)

RIC-FAS scores the individual on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 means that he or she requires total assistance in the area, and 7 means that he or she is entirely independent. There is also a score of 0 meaning that the individual was not evaluated. More specifically, a score of 6 or 7 means that no helper is needed for the function, whereas a score of 1-5 means that help to a varying degree is needed.

The RIC-FAS evaluation is part of the comprehensive evaluation that NeuLife Rehab conducts of individuals to create an individualized Client Goal Plan for their post-acute rehabilitation. The test is also utilized while a Client is at NeuLife Rehab to assess progress. While complete independence is always the goal, physical or mental capabilities of the Client may make it more appropriate that he or she transition to a supported independent living environment.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Plan guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife Rehab’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting, therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each Client so that he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife Rehab believes personal philosophy is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757