Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11434/266
Title: Prospective study of barriers to discharge from a spinal cord injury rehabilitation unit.
Epworth Authors: New, Peter
Keywords: Spinal Cord Trauma
Patient Discharge
Discharge Planning
Hospitalization
Length of Stay
Institutionalization
Long-Term Care
Rehabilitation
SRU
Discharge Barrier
Epworth-Monash Rehabilitation Medicine Unit, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Issue Date: Jul-2015
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Citation: Spinal Cord. 2015 May;53(5):358-62
Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Prospective open cohort case series of consecutive patients admitted with spinal cord damage to a spinal rehabilitation unit (SRU) between 1 January 2008 and 31 July 2013. OBJECTIVES: Measure the prevalence of barriers to discharge, their reasons and resulting additional unnecessary days in hospital. SETTING: SRU, Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Consecutive SRU admissions had prospective documentation of key clinical and demographic characteristics, the occurrence of any discharge barrier, the cause(s) and duration of unnecessary hospitalisation. RESULTS: There were 235 patients in the study; 138 (58.7%) were male and the median age was 63 years. Eighty-six (36.6%) patients had a discharge barrier. The most common reasons for a discharge barrier were: waiting for approval for long-term and supported care or services, residential care, home modifications, family deliberations regarding discharge planning and the provision of equipment necessary for discharge. The reasons accounting for the greatest number of additional hospital days were: home modifications, residential care, equipment necessary for discharge, waiting for approval for long-term and supported care or services and accommodation for people unable to return to their previous residence without readily available alternatives. Over the study period 17.5% (3176/18 184) of all bed-days were occupied by patients deemed to be clinically ready for discharge from the SRU but who had a discharge barrier. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to discharge from rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord damage are common, substantial, and represent an important opportunity for health systems improvement.
DOI: 10.1038/sc.2014.166
PubMed URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25266693
ISSN: 1362-4393
1476-5624
Journal Title: Spinal Cord
Type: Journal Article
Affiliated Organisations: Spinal Rehabilitation Service, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Type of Clinical Study or Trial: Prospective Cohort Study
Appears in Collections:Health Administration
Neurosciences
Rehabilitation

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