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Functional Capacity Index Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Donald C. Bischoff Date: 20 October 1994 Subject: American Government  • Safety
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[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 202 (Thursday, October 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25980]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 91-33, Notice No. 02]
Functional Capacity Index
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Availability of final report on proposed Functional Capacity
Index.
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DATES: Comments are requested no later than December 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should refer to the docket and notice
number of this document and should be submitted, (preferably in ten
copies) to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, room 5109, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is
developing a scale to measure the consequences of injuries received in
motor vehicle crashes based on adjusted life-years. The factor used to
adjust the injured person's remaining life-years is called the
Functional Capacity Index. It combines decrements in each of ten
dimensions of functioning into a whole body score. This notice
announces the completion of the initial phase of the development, the
availability of a final report on this initial phase of the
development, and the current plans for further development.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Luchter, Office of Plans and
Policy, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 7th St.
SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202/366-1570.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Docket 91-33 announced interim progress in
the development of an index to measure the long term consequences of
injuries by estimating the reduction in functional capacity of the
injured person, and the agency's intent to use this index for, among
other things, resource allocation, regulatory analysis, and in support
of state and local programs. Work on this project has continued and a
final report is now available on the initial phase of the development.
In its present state of development, the Index is applicable to
previously healthy adults for their condition one year post-injury. For
each injury to the head, face, neck, thorax, abdomen and pelvic
contents, spine, upper extremity, and lower extremity body regions
listed in the Abbreviated Injury Scale published by the Association for
the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, an expert panel has determined
the appropriate level of each of the ten attributes. In addition,
relative weights for each attribute/severity level combination have
been developed based on the value judgments of a diverse set of sub-
populations, and an algorithm for combining these into a whole body
score has been developed. This results in a whole body numerical index
for each of the injuries.
A clinical evaluation of the index in order to establish validity
and reliability will begin in FY 1995 (59 FR 36829-36832). Current
plans, subject to revision as the program progresses and future budget
allocations become available, include development of a separate index
for pediatric injuries, as the attributes of normal healthy children
are not described by the present definitions and development of a
separate index for geriatric injuries, as the same level of trauma has
a greater effect on older people and there is some evidence that the
value judgments of the effect of reduced capacity are different for
older people.
Comments
Comments on the final report and the agency's future plans are
welcome in order to benefit from the opinions that interested parties
and the public may wish to forward. All comments submitted in response
to this notice will be considered by the agency.
Written comments should be submitted to: NHTSA Docket Section, Room
5109, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.
Comments should refer to Docket #91-33, Notice 02.
It is requested, but not required, of interested persons that ten
copies of each comment be submitted. All comments must not exceed
fifteen pages in length. (49 CFR 553.21). Necessary attachments may be
appended to these suggestions without regard to the fifteen page limit.
This limitation is intended to encourage commentors to present their
views in a concise fashion.
Issued on October 13, 1994.
Donald C. Bischoff,
Associate Administrator, Plans and Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-25980 Filed 10-19-94; 8:45 am]
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