Discharge Destinations after Acute Rehabilitation Care

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influencing factors on the discharge destinations of the patients who were treated in the rehabilitation department of acute hospital for the major disabilities. METHOD: Medical records of the 108 patients with stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury were reviewed after the discharge from acute rehabilitation care. The demographic factors, socioeconomic status, disease characteristics and functional status of the patients were evaluated to investigate the affecting factors to the discharge destinations. RESULT: Discharge destinations were subdivided into homes 67 (62%), transfer to other hospitals 31 (29%) and transfer to oriental medicine hospitals 10 (9%). The Functional independence measure (FIM) score, length of rehabilitation care, type of payment, operation and diagnosis significantly influenced discharge destinations (p<0.05). The patients who were transferred to other hospital showed significantly lower FIM score and longer length of rehabilitation care compared with patients who were discharged to home or transferred to oriental medicine hospital (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The FIM score, length of rehabilitation care, type of payment, operation, and diagnosis significantly influenced the discharge destinations of patients after rehabilitation. It is necessary to increase the subacute or chronic rehabilitation facilities for the case of patients with severe physical disabilities.