[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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