Functional Goals
Functional Goals are specific, practical targets set for patients in rehabilitation settings. These goals focus on helping patients regain their ability to perform everyday activities, like dressing themselves, walking, or returning to work. Healthcare professionals use functional goals to create clear, measurable plans that track a patient's progress during treatment. Unlike general medical goals that focus on medical conditions, functional goals concentrate on what the patient needs to do in their daily life. This approach is common in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation services.
Examples in Resumes
Developed and implemented Functional Goals for stroke recovery patients, achieving 85% success rate
Created individualized Functional Goals and treatment plans for a caseload of 30 rehabilitation patients
Collaborated with multidisciplinary team to establish and monitor Functional Goals for elderly patients
Typical job title: "Rehabilitation Therapists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Rehabilitation Therapists
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach creating functional goals for complex cases with multiple conditions?
Expected Answer: A senior therapist should discuss how they evaluate the patient holistically, prioritize goals based on patient needs and safety, and coordinate with other healthcare providers to create comprehensive, realistic goals that address all aspects of the patient's condition.
Q: Describe how you would lead a team in implementing and tracking functional goals across multiple patients.
Expected Answer: Should explain their system for organizing and monitoring multiple patients' progress, mentoring team members, ensuring consistent documentation, and adjusting goals based on outcomes data.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you modify functional goals when a patient isn't progressing as expected?
Expected Answer: Should discuss their process for evaluating barriers to progress, consulting with team members, adjusting goals to be more achievable, and communicating changes to patients and families.
Q: Explain how you write measurable functional goals that satisfy insurance requirements.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of writing specific, measurable goals that meet documentation standards and insurance criteria while remaining patient-centered and practical.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the key components of a well-written functional goal?
Expected Answer: Should explain that goals need to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), with examples of how to write goals for common conditions.
Q: How do you involve patients in setting their functional goals?
Expected Answer: Should describe how to interview patients about their daily activities, understand their priorities, and collaborate with them to set realistic goals that matter to them.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic goal writing and documentation
- Patient assessment and evaluation
- Understanding of common conditions
- Basic treatment techniques
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex goal setting and modification
- Insurance documentation requirements
- Patient education and family training
- Treatment plan development
Senior (5+ years)
- Program development and evaluation
- Staff training and mentoring
- Complex case management
- Quality improvement initiatives
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to write clear, measurable goals
- Lack of knowledge about basic assessment tools
- Poor documentation skills
- No experience with insurance requirements
- Limited understanding of rehabilitation principles
Related Terms
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