Abstract
Objective: To identify predictors of rehabilitation hospital resource utilization for patients with stroke, using demographic, medical, and functional information available on admission. Design: Statistical analysis of data prospectively collected from stroke rehabilitation patients. Setting: Large, urban, academic freestanding rehabilitation facility. Participants: A total of 945 stroke patients consecutively admitted for acute inpatient rehabilitation. Main Outcome Measures: Resource utilization was measured by rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) and mean hospital charge per day (CPD). Methods: Independent variables were organized into categories derived from four consecutive phases of clinical assessment: (1) patient referral information, (2) acute hospital record review and patient history, (3) physical examination, and (4) functional assessment. Predictors for LOS and CPD were identified separately using four stepwise multiple linear regression analyses starting with variables from the first category and adding new category data for each subsequent analysis. Results: Severe neurologic impairment, as measured by Rasch-convened NIH stroke scale and lower Rasch- converted motor measure of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument predicted longer LOS (F2,824 = 231.9, p < .001). Lower Rasch- converted motor FIM instrument measure, tracheostomy, feeding tube, and a history of pneumonia, coronary artery disease, or renal failure predicted higher CPD (F6,820 = 90.2, p < .001). Conclusion: Stroke rehabilitation LOS and CPD are predicted by different factors. Severe impairment and motor disability are the main predictors of longer LOS; motor disability and medical comorbidities predict higher CPD. These findings will help clinicians anticipate resource needs of stroke rehabilitation patients using medical history, physical examination, and functional assessment.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1349-1355 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation |
| Volume | 79 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1998 |
Funding
From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Medical School (Drs. Harvey, Roth, Heinemann), and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Drs. Harvey, Roth, Heinemann, Ms. Lovell, Ms. Diaz), Chicago, IL; and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (Dr. McGuire). Submitted for publication October 10, 1997. Accepted in revised form May 25, 1998. Supported by The US Department of Education, The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, grant H 133B30024, through the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Enhancing Quality of Life of Stroke Survivors, and by The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Presented at the 58th Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, October 13, 1996, Chicago, IL. No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated. Reprint requests to Richard L. Harvey, MD, 345 East Superior Street. Chicago, IL 6O611. © 1998 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 0003-9993/98/7911-467953.00/0
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation