Improved satisfaction during inpatient rehabilitation after hip and knee arthroplasty: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To increase patient satisfaction by 25% and decrease length of stay by 1 day while maintaining current levels of functional change. DESIGN: This trial was performed in a university medical center's acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital and included 46 consecutive subjects who had a total hip or total knee arthroplasty that required acute inpatient rehabilitation. A common documentation system was adapted for physical therapists in the acute-care hospital and rehabilitation setting. A consistent team of physical therapists and rehabilitation nurses, whose treatment focus was joint-replacement patients, was assembled. An enhanced written and verbal patient information and orientation system was implemented. Satisfaction rate and length of stay were determined, and functional change was calculated by use of the FIM instrument. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction increased from a baseline of 77% to 92%. The decrease in average length of stay was not found to be significantly different. Levels of functional change from admission to discharge decreased and was found to be significant. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction can be increased during inpatient rehabilitation after total hip and total knee arthroplasty even while the functional change from admission to discharge decreases. The implementation of a common documentation system, consistent staff, and enhanced patient orientation may be the reason for this increase in satisfaction rate, but is difficult to conclude because of the design of the study.