Assessment of Functioning and Disability

Why is disability assessment important? Knowing what disease a patient has requires application of the fine art and science of diagnosis. This knowledge helps to guide treatment interventions and management strategies; it can also help to predict outcome and prognosis to a certain extent. However, although diagnosis is valuable, on its own, it is not sufficient for understanding the full picture and the lived experience of a patient; the adage “there are no diseases, but patients” applies.