A summary measure of client level of functioning: progress and challenges for use within mental health agencies.

A summary measure of clients' level of functioning could assist mental health agencies to better document and evaluate their services. Currently, numerous state mental health authorities collect a level of functioning measure within a management information system on virtually all clients served with state resources. The uses of these data include describing the clientele, defining a priority population for services, preparing performance indicators and measuring contract obligations. However, clearer delineation of the construct of functioning, further exploration of the psychometric properties of the instruments and stricter procedures to ensure the accuracy of data would result in data that are more useful for both management and research.