Medical Outcomes Trust

Medical Outcomes Trust was a non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality by promoting the use of standardized health outcome measures. The Trust served as a clearinghouse for validated instruments, most notably the SF-36 Health Survey, which assesses patient-reported physical and mental health status. It provided scientific review and distribution services for these tools to ensure they met rigorous psychometric standards. The organization played a pivotal role in the 1990s by making high-quality health assessment tools available to researchers and clinicians worldwide. While the organization is no longer active, its work laid the foundation for modern patient-reported outcome (PRO) metrics used globally in clinical research and practice. Its legacy continues through the widespread adoption of the 'SF' family of surveys in pharmaceutical trials and population health studies.