On August 29 to 31,1994, a conference was conducted to develop recommendations for needed initiatives in medical rehabilitation outcomes research. Organized by the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research and cosponsored with the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the conference was entitled “An Agenda for Medical Rehabilitation Outcome Research.” The resulting recommendations are presented in four areas: philosophic issues; strategy and design issues; measurement of disability and handicap; and measurement of quality-of-life and of health status.