J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2005 Feb;29(1):135-140.

The Discharge Destination of Rehabilitation Inpatients in a Tertiary Hospital

• Rhie KS
• Rah UW
• Lee IY
• Yim SY
• Kim KM
• Moon DJ
• Lee JB

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors which can delay home discharges or transfers to other hospitals of rehabilitation inpatients in a tertiary hospital and the change of discharge destination during past 6 years. METHOD: This was a retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury who were admitted to our hospital in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Demographic data, length of stay, discharge destination and functional status by the FIM(TM) instrument were studied by a medical record review. RESULT: Patients who were transferred to other hospitals or discharged with delay showed significantly lower admission and discharge FIM scores, lower FIM efficiencies, longer length of stays and longer intervals between the onset and admission to a rehabilitation ward. CONCLUSION: Lower functional outcome was associated with a longer length of stay and discharge to another hospital. It would be necessary to establish the long term rehabilitation care facilities with extended rehabilitation program for the patients with lower functional gains in a rehabilitation unit of the tertiary hospitals.

Keyword

Length of stay; Discharge destination; Functional outcome; Rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Brain Injuries
Diagnosis
Humans
Inpatients*
Length of Stay
Medical Records
Rehabilitation*
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Cord Injuries
Stroke
Tertiary Care Centers*