Inpatient rehabilitation of patients requiring hemodialysis: improving efficiency of care

OBJECTIVE: To determine if reducing missed therapy sessions by patients requiring hemodialysis will reduce the length of stay (LOS) and improve the efficiency of care in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation unit at a university medical center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients discharged from the Albany Medical Center rehabilitation unit between January 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004. The total number of patients was 955, 40 of whom required hemodialysis. INTERVENTION: On January 1, 2003, Albany Medical Center began providing hemodialysis in the late afternoon, allowing patients to complete a full 3-hour program without missing therapy sessions to attend dialysis. We compared the outcomes of 915 patients who did not require hemodialysis with the outcomes of 40 patients who required hemodialysis. We also compared the outcomes of patients treated on the rehabilitation unit in 2003-2004 to the outcomes of patients treated on the rehabilitation unit before dialysis was available at times that did not conflict with therapy (calendar year 2001). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LOS, improvement on the FIM instrument, and FIM efficiency score. RESULTS: The LOS of the hemodialysis patients changed from 16.0 in 2001 to 12.1 in 2003-2004 (P<.05), and the FIM efficiency score of the hemodialysis patients improved from 1.8 in 2001 to 2.9 in 2003-2004 (P<.05). The FIM efficiency score of the nondialysis group in 2003-2004 was 4.0. This was significantly greater (P<.05) than that of dialysis patients in 2003-2004. CONCLUSIONS: A program to reduce conflicts between medical treatments such as hemodialysis and therapy sessions may result in reduced LOS and improved efficiency on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.     

Venous thromboembolism in a rehabilitation setting after major lower-extremity amputation

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTED) and impact on functional outcome in patients with major lower-extremity (LE) amputation admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit. DESIGN: Retrospective medical records review. SETTING: Acute inpatient rehabilitation unit in a tertiary, urban academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty consecutive patients admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit after a major LE amputation. Participants were screened at rehabilitation admission for LE deep vein thrombosis using duplex ultrasonography. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.Main outcome measures VTED incidence, FIM instrument, total rehabilitation charges, and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: Six of 50 patients (12%) had evidence of VTED. The VTED cohort had significantly lower admission and discharge FIM scores than the no-VTED cohort (admission FIM score, 57.2 vs 76.0; discharge FIM score, 66.0 vs 90.1, respectively; P< or =.02). Subjects with VTED had a longer rehabilitation LOS (22.8d vs 13.9d, respectively; P=.02) and higher total rehabilitation charges (28,314 US dollars vs 17,724 US dollars, respectively; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, VTED prevalence after LE amputation in a rehabilitation setting was 12%. Subjects with VTED had lower admission and discharge functional status, longer LOS, and higher hospital charges. The utility of screening duplex ultrasound examinations at rehabilitation admission remains unclear.     

Impact of an inpatient rehabilitation facility on functional outcome and length of stay of burn survivors

This study reviewed the use of an inpatient rehabilitation unit for burn survivors. We hypothesized that adult burn patients admitted earlier to inpatient rehabilitation have an equal or better functional outcome than those remaining in acute burn center for rehabilitation care. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) data were prospectively collected on our burn center admissions dating January 2002 to August 2003. National rehabilitation data were acquired from eRehabData and burn literature. A total of 217 adult patients survived until hospital discharge, with 21 (9.7%) discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (REHAB). REHAB had larger burn injuries, more inhalation injuries, higher incidence hand/foot burns, and longer length of stay (LOS). REHAB had lower FIM upon rehabilitation facility admission than national averages but greater FIM improvement during comparable rehabilitation LOS. Although our earlier rehabilitation admission strategy results in more frequent rehabilitation unit referrals, patients had shorter burn center LOS and greater FIM improvement compared with limited national burn patient functional outcome data currently available.     

Significance of poor patient participation in physical and occupational therapy for functional outcome and length of stay

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of poor patient participation during inpatient physical (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) sessions and to examine the influence of poor participation on functional outcome and length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University-based, freestanding acute rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty-two inpatients, primarily elderly (age range, 20-96y), with a variety of impairment diagnoses (eg, stroke), who were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale, the 13 motor items from the FIM instrument (FIM motor), LOS, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: We categorized the sample into 3 groups: "good" participators were those for whom all inpatient PT and OT sessions were rated 4 or greater (n=139), "occasional poor" participators were those with less than 25% of scores rated below 4 (n=53), and "frequent poor" participators were those with 25% or more of scores rated below 4 (n=50). Change in FIM motor scores during the inpatient rehabilitation stay was significantly better for good and occasional poor participators, compared with frequent poor participators (mean FIM improvement: 23.2, 22.8, and 17.6, respectively; repeated-measures analysis of variance group by time interaction, P <.002). LOS was significantly longer for occasional poor participators, compared with good and frequent poor participators controlling for admission FIM differences (adjusted means: 13.9d, 11.0d, and 10.9d, respectively; analysis of covariance, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor participation in therapy is common during inpatient rehabilitation and has important clinical implications, in terms of lower improvement in FIM scores and longer LOS. These results suggest that poor inpatient rehabilitation participation and its antecedents deserve further attention.     

Severe penetrating head injury: a study of outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To determine and describe the demographics and functional outcomes of persons who require inpatient rehabilitation for severe penetrating head injury resulting from a gunshot wound to the head. DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively from the time of admission to acute care through discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. SETTING: Two sites: an urban, level I, acute care, trauma center and an inpatient rehabilitation hospital with a specialized brain injury unit. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven persons with severe penetrating head injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The FIM instrument, the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and the length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: Demographic data showed our population to be similar to other groups of persons at high risk for violent injury. Eighty-five percent of the subjects were men with a mean age of 34 years. The majority were African American (93%), reflective of our general patient population. Average acute care LOS was 31 days and average rehabilitation LOS was 44 days. Average FIM gain was 40.2 and, on average, DRS scores improved 7.6 points from rehabilitation admission to discharge. All study participants made enough progress to be discharged to private residences. CONCLUSION: Although the mortality rate is high among patients with penetrating head injury, those who survive to receive inpatient rehabilitation can achieve functional improvement.     

A follow-up study of older adults with traumatic brain injury: taking into account decreasing length of stay

OBJECTIVE: To examine age-related differences in rehabilitation outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Retrospective collaborative study. SETTING: Patients received acute neurotrauma and inpatient rehabilitation services at 1 of the 17 National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-designated Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) centers. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 273 older patients (> or =55y) admitted for TBI were taken from the TBIMS National Database. Older patients were matched with subjects 44 years of age or younger, based on severity of injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score, length of coma, intracranial pressure elevations). Due to decreasing length of stay (LOS), only patients admitted from 1996 through 2002 were included. INTERVENTION: Inpatient interdisciplinary brain injury rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute care LOS, inpatient rehabilitation LOS, admission and discharge FIM instrument and Disability Rating Scale (DRS) scores, FIM and DRS efficiency, acute and rehabilitative charges, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: One-way analyses of variance demonstrated a statistically significant difference between older and younger patients with respect to LOS in rehabilitation but not for acute care. Total rehabilitative charges, and admission and discharge DRS and FIM scores also showed statistically significant differences between groups. Older patients progressed with significantly less efficiency on both the DRS and FIM scales. Significantly more charges were generated per unit for older patients to improve on the DRS scale, but not the FIM scale. Using chi-square analysis, a statistically significant difference in rate of discharge to home was identified between older (80.5%) and younger (94.4%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Results in this study are similar to those in earlier studies with smaller sample sizes. Major differences observed include significantly slower and more costly progress in inpatient rehabilitation for older patients with TBI, as well as a significantly lower rate of discharge to community for older patients. However, even with decreasing LOS in both settings, community discharge rate is still encouraging for older patients with TBI.     

Neoplastic versus traumatic spinal cord injury: an outcome comparison after inpatient rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression (SCC) to outcomes of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) after inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN: A comparison between patients with a diagnosis of neoplastic SCC admitted to an SCI rehabilitation unit and patients with a diagnosis of traumatic SCI admitted to the regional Model Spinal Cord Injury Centers over a 5-year period, controlling for age, neurologic level of injury, and American Spinal Injury Association impairment classification. SETTING: Tertiary university medical centers. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine patients with neoplastic SCC and 29 patients with SCI of traumatic etiology who met standard rehabilitation admission criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute and rehabilitation hospital length of stay (LOS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, FIM change, FIM efficiency, and discharge rates to home. RESULTS: Patients with neoplastic SCC had a significantly (p < .01) shorter rehabilitation LOS than those with traumatic SCI (25.17 vs 57.46 days). No statistical significance was found in acute care LOS. Motor FIM scores on admission were higher in the neoplastic group, but discharge FIM scores and FIM change were significantly lower. Both groups had similar FIM efficiencies and community discharges. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neoplastic SCC can achieve rates of functional gain comparable to those of their counterparts with traumatic SCI. While patients with traumatic SCI achieve greater functional improvement, patients with neoplastic SCC have a shorter rehabilitation LOS and can achieve comparable success with discharge to the community.     

Functional outcomes and quality of life in patients with brain tumors: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between functional outcome and quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain tumors receiving inpatient rehabilitation, and to assess the sensitivity of 4 assessment tools in measuring changes in that population. DESIGN: Prospective study using longitudinal data collected from consecutively admitted patients. SETTING: Acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients with primary brain tumors admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. INTERVENTIONS: Patients participated in an inpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation program that used the following disciplines: occupational therapy, rehabilitation therapy, recreational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation nursing and case management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The FIM instrument, Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-BR). RESULTS: Improvement in total functional outcome was indicated by all 3 functional measures (FIM: F = 46.84, p < .05; DRS: F = 19.25, p < .05; KPS: F = 10.11, p < .05). Significant improvements were found between admission and discharge scores for the FIM and DRS. The KPS revealed significant improvement between admission and 3-month follow-up scores. All admission and discharge functional scales (FIM, DRS, KPS) correlated significantly with each other. No significant change was noted in the FACT-BR between admission and discharge scores, but FACT-BR scores did improve at 1- and 3-months postdischarge relative to admission. The FIM, KPS, and DRS did not show significant correlation with the FACT-BR. Ninety percent of patients were initially discharged to a home environment. CONCLUSION: Although patients make functional gains during and after inpatient rehabilitation, gains in QOL are not significant until 1 month postdischarge. QOL does not appear to correlate well with functional outcomes. Further, the KPS is less sensitive than the FIM and DRS in detecting change in functional status.     

Examination of follow-up therapy in patients with stroke

OBJECTIVE: Examine the patterns and effect of follow-up therapy for persons with stroke. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of national inpatient medical rehabilitation facilities and follow-up survey data from 1994 to 2001. A total of 45,164 patients received inpatient medical rehabilitation after a stroke. The mean age (+/- standard deviation) was 69.5 (+/-12.8) yrs, 48% were women, and 77% were non-Hispanic white. Average length of stay was 21.9 (+/-14.2) days. RESULTS: The highest gain in FIM instrument ratings for follow-up therapy was associated with a discharge FIM rating of > or =65. Patients with FIM ratings > or =65 at discharge who received follow-up therapy gained an average of 19.4 points between discharge and follow-up assessment compared with a mean gain of 15.1 points for persons who did not receive follow-up therapy. Validity was examined using 100 bootstrap replications. The percentage of persons with FIM instrument scores of > or =65 receiving follow-up therapy increased from 38% in 1994 to 58% in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in postdischarge FIM gains between patients with and without follow-up therapy were greatest among patients with discharge FIM instrument ratings of > or =65. Compared with patients whose discharge FIM ratings were >65, patients with discharge FIM scores of > or =65 who underwent follow-up therapy demonstrated substantially greater average postdischarge FIM gains than those with FIM ratings of >65.     

Gender-related differences in acute rehabilitation lengths of stay, charges, and functional outcomes for a matched sample with spinal cord injury: a multicenter investigation

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of gender on length of stay (LOS), treatment costs, and outcomes by using a matched sample of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: A 2 x (15 x 3) mixed, block design was used retrospectively to analyze the impact of gender on subjects matched for age, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor impairment classification, and level of neurologic injury. SETTING: Twenty medical centers in the federally sponsored Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems project. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand seventy-four adult patients with SCI admitted between 1988 and 1998 were assessed at acute-care admission, inpatient rehabilitation admission, and inpatient rehabilitation discharge. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ASIA motor index and FIM instrument admission, discharge, and efficiency scores; rehabilitation LOS and medical care charges; and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Analysis revealed no gender-related differences in FIM motor scores on admission and discharge. No differences in FIM motor efficiencies or daily change were observed. No significant differences were found for ASIA motor scores on acute-care admission and rehabilitation discharge. No differences in acute rehabilitation LOS and charges were observed. No gender-related differences were seen in the likelihood of discharge to an institutional setting. CONCLUSION: Gender was not a significant factor in functional outcome of SCI patients after acute rehabilitation.     

Do preinjury alcohol problems predict poorer rehabilitation progress in persons with spinal cord injury?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a history of alcohol-related problems is associated with inpatient rehabilitation progress. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort survey. SETTING: Acute inpatient rehabilitation program in a level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six of 104 consecutive patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who met inclusion criteria and had completed interviews and functional outcome data. Participants were on average 38 years old; 84% were white, and 86% were men. Forty-two percent had tetraplegia and 39% had a history of problem drinking. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FIM instrument admission, discharge, and efficiency scores as well as rehabilitation length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: The group with a history of problem drinking had significantly lower FIM admission, discharge, and efficiency scores and longer rehabilitation LOS. After controlling for potential confounding factors, a history of problem drinking accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in FIM efficiency scores. CONCLUSIONS: A history of problem drinking may be a risk factor for poorer rehabilitation progress among patients with SCI. They may be more costly to rehabilitate and may be discharged before attaining an adequate level of independence. Despite this, the current rehabilitation prospective payment system does not recognize this common comorbid condition.     

Potential impact of the new medicare prospective payment system on reimbursement for traumatic brain injury inpatient rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential impact of the new Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) on traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of patients with TBI. Patients were assigned to their appropriate case-mix group (CMG) based on Medicare criteria. SETTING: Fourteen urban rehabilitation facilities throughout the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with TBI admitted to inpatient rehabilitation and enrolled in the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems from 1998 to 2001 (N=1807). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cost of inpatient rehabilitation admission, length of stay (LOS), and functional outcomes. RESULTS: The median cost of inpatient rehabilitation for patients with TBI exceeded median PPS payments for all TBI CMGs by 16%. Only 3 of the 14 hospitals received reimbursement under PPS that exceeded costs for their TBI patients. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with current costs, the new Medicare payment system may reimburse facilities significantly less than their costs for the treatment of TBI. To maintain their current financial status, facilities may have to reduce LOS and/or reduce resource use. With a decreased LOS, inpatient rehabilitation services will have to improve FIM efficiency or discharge patients with lower discharge FIM scores.     

Analysis of FIM instrument scores for patients admitted to an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (a phase IB) whether length of stay (LOS), discharge to home, and improvement in physical function differed between patients with lower and higher degrees of functional independence on admission. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: A public acute long-term care hospital. PATIENTS: All cardiac rehabilitation patients (N = 143) admitted to the hospital from January 1998 through June 1999. Patients were divided into a higher- and a lower-functioning group by using the admission FIM instrument scores above and below the midpoint of 72. Comparisons in LOS, discharge disposition, and functional gains between these 2 groups were then performed. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FIM scores, FIM change, FIM gains per week, LOS, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Total FIM scores at discharge were significantly higher than those on admission (25%, P <.0001). The median value of total FIM gains per week was 7.78 with a stay of 17 days and a home discharge rate of 76%. The higher-functioning group (n = 106) differed from the lower group (n = 37) with shorter stay (15 vs 23d, P <.0001), greater FIM gains per week (8.6 vs 4.8, P =.002), and greater likelihood of discharge to home or community (84% vs 54%, P <.001). The average incremental FIM change in each group was the same. In multivariate analysis, both admission (P =.001) and discharge (P <.001) FIM scores were the best predictors of patients' discharge disposition to home. CONCLUSIONS: Admission FIM scores are important predictors for the clinical course and discharge outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation patients, with those with higher admission FIM scores having a shorter LOS and greater likelihood of discharge to home. The admission FIM scores can help to establish realistic goals.     

Racial/ethnic differences in FIM scores and length of stay for underinsured patients undergoing stroke inpatient rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To explore racial/ethnic differences in FIM data from admission to discharge in underinsured patients undergoing inpatient stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) database of an inpatient rehabilitation unit of a county hospital in a large urban city. Data included 171 adult patients admitted to the stroke rehabilitation unit between January 2000 and October 2003. Main outcome measures included admission and discharge total FIM score, FIM gain, FIM efficiency, and length of stay (LOS). Data were analyzed using chi analyses, t tests, univariate analysis of variance, binary logistic regression, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Data from 68 Hispanic, 83 black, and 20 white patients were included in the study. Univariate tests revealed that race/ethnicity groups differed significantly on admission FIM score (F=5.38, P<0.005), FIM gain (F=4.35, P<0.014), and FIM efficiency (F=3.42, P<0.035). Post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed that Hispanics had lower admission FIM scores than blacks (58.9 vs. 68.9). However, Hispanics had higher FIM gain scores than blacks (26.8 vs. 21.5). Race/ethnicity was not significantly related to age, gender, side of stroke, type of stroke, time from onset of stroke to rehabilitation admission, discharge FIM score, or LOS. Multiple regression analyses revealed that after controlling for all other available factors, race/ethnicity accounted for a significant amount of additional variance in admission FIM score (5.8%) and FIM efficiency (4.6%), but not in discharge FIM score, FIM gain, or LOS. Race/ethnicity was not predictive of discharge disposition. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in functional independence at admission to poststroke rehabilitation and the average daily improvement in function are related, in part, to patients' race/ethnicity. Differences in change in functional independence from admission to discharge (FIM gain) are not related to race/ethnicity once other factors, particularly admission FIM score, are taken into account. Future studies should identify reasons why Hispanics have lower admission FIM scores because demographic and stroke-related variables were not related to ethnicity yet have outcomes similar to blacks and whites at discharge.     

Time to rehabilitation admission and associated outcomes for patients with traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between time from injury to rehabilitation admission and outcomes for patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: One hundred-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility with a 20-bed brain injury unit. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with TBIs discharged from initial inpatient rehabilitation between 2003 and 2004 (N=158). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes examined were functional independence at discharge (motor, cognitive, total FIM scores), rehabilitation length of stay (LOS), and rehabilitation cost. RESULTS: Significant linear trends were observed for time to admission and motor FIM scores, total FIM scores, rehabilitation LOS, and cost. All linear regression models contained time to admission as a significant predictor of rehabilitation outcomes. Over half of the variability in outcomes was explained by predictors including time to admission and case-mix group or individual FIM scores with the exception of discharge motor FIM score, for which only 45% of the variability was explained. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who progress to rehabilitation earlier do better functionally and have lower costs and shorter LOSs. Furthermore, the time to rehabilitation admission is easily calculated and could be used by rehabilitation providers in adjunct with admission FIM scores to estimate resource utilization.     

Sex and age effects on outcomes of total hip arthroplasty after inpatient rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively examine the effects of sex and age on the inpatient rehabilitation outcomes of patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). DESIGN: Exploratory, retrospective study. SETTING: A university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Male and female THA patients (N=332) were stratified into age brackets (<65y, 65-84y, >or=85y). All patients completed interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of stay (LOS), FIM instrument scores, FIM efficiency (FIM/LOS), hospital costs, and discharge disposition location were collected by chart review. RESULTS: Regardless of age, women had lower FIM scores at admission and discharge than men (P<.05). FIM efficiency was 22% to 53% lower for women in primary THA and 16% to 85% lower in revision THA than men (P=.001). Women accrued higher total hospital charges than men (13,099 dollars vs 11,141 dollars; P<.05), and were discharged home less frequently than men (84.4% vs 90.9%; P<.05). Admission FIM scores were 10.6% and 8.9% lower and discharge FIM scores were 7.3% and 9.2% lower in patients 85 years or older than those less than 65 or 65 to 84 years (P<.01). FIM efficiency was 25% to 38% higher in patients less than 85 years than those 85 years and older (P=.015), and 37% higher in men than women (P=.001). Patients 85 years and older were discharged less frequently to home than patients less than 85 years (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: All patients made functional improvement after inpatient rehabilitation, but women and patients 85 years and older had longer LOS and lower FIM efficiency, incurred greater hospital charges, and were less likely to be discharged to home than men and younger counterparts.     

Depressive symptoms and history of depression predict rehabilitation efficiency in stroke patients

OBJECTIVE: To examine how depressive symptoms, a history of depression, and cognitive functioning contribute to the prediction of rehabilitation efficiency in stroke patients. DESIGN: Consecutive admissions to an acute inpatient rehabilitation program were screened for cognitive functioning and level of depressive symptoms. History of depression was determined by family member interview. Functional status was evaluated at time of admission and discharge. Depressive symptoms, depression history, and cognitive functioning were examined as predictors of length of stay (LOS) and efficiency of utilization of rehabilitation services. SETTING: Acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 348 consecutive stroke admissions to an inpatient program were evaluated for depression and cognitive functioning, of whom 243 patients completed all aspects of the screening. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rehabilitation progress, measured with the LOS efficiency measure (LOS-EFF) of the FIM instrument, and length of rehabilitation hospital stay. RESULTS: Patients with higher levels of depressive symptoms used rehabilitation services less efficiently than those with lower symptom levels but did not have longer LOSs. History of depression was associated with longer LOS and less efficient use of rehabilitation services. Cognitive impairment did not predict rehabilitation efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The present study lends further support to the benefits of screening stroke patients at the time of rehabilitation admission for depression and history of depression. Identifying patients who have high levels of depressive symptoms and/or a previous depressive episode will allow more comprehensive assessment and rapid intervention.     

Outcomes after inpatient rehabilitation of primary and revision total hip arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of patients who have gone to inpatient rehabilitation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and revision THA. DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative study. SETTING: Fifty-bed freestanding, university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-five male and female primary THA patients and 147 male and female revision THA patients. INTERVENTION: Interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of stay (LOS), FIM instrument score and FIM motor score components, hospital charges, and discharge disposition location. RESULTS: FIM scores improved from admission to discharge by 29.7 and 27.9 points for the primary THA and revision THA groups, respectively (P<.05). LOS was shorter for primary THA patients compared with revision THA patients (10.0d vs 11.5d, P<.05). FIM efficiency (DeltaFIM/LOS) was greater for primary THA compared with revision THA (3.4 and 2.7 points/day, P<.05). Total rehabilitation hospital charges were 11,421 US dollars and 13,707 US dollars for the primary and revision THA groups, respectively, with the mechanical and infection revision THAs incurring the greatest charges (14,596 US dollars and 15,386 US dollars, respectively; P<.001). Compared with primary THA, revision THA patients were twice as likely to be discharged to locations other than home. CONCLUSIONS: FIM score improvement was lower and LOS and hospital charges were greater in revision THA than in primary THA after rehabilitation. Infection revision THA patients gained less functional independence and were discharged home less often than mechanical or pain revision THA patients; finally, infection and mechanical revision THA accrued the highest hospital charges.     

Unilateral spatial neglect: relation to rehabilitation outcomes in patients with right hemisphere stroke

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between left unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with right hemisphere stroke. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a database of right hemisphere stroke patients. SETTING: Acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=175) with a diagnosis of right hemisphere stroke who had undergone a neuropsychologic screening including assessment of USN and depressive symptoms at time of admission to an inpatient rehabilitation program. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional status was evaluated with the FIM instrument at admission and discharge. The relationship between USN, depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, length of stay (LOS), and rate of progress in rehabilitation was examined via univariate (correlational) and multivariate (Cox regression) analyses. RESULTS: Patients with USN had longer LOS and progressed more slowly compared with those without USN. When matched against patients with equally poor functional status at admission, USN patients still had longer admissions and progressed more slowly. CONCLUSIONS: USN is a unique predictor of rehabilitation outcomes in patients with right hemisphere stroke. Identification of those specific functional skill areas most affected by USN may make possible the development of targeted interventions aimed at these key areas.