Functional outcomes after inpatient rehabilitation for trauma-improved but unable to return home

Prevention Admission into Nursing homes (PAN): study protocol for an explorative, prospective longitudinal pilot study

BACKGROUND

In Switzerland, there is a lack of adequate rehabilitation services, and effective coordination, that take into account the multifactorial health risks of older people. The literature shows that the hospitalisation rate in rehabilitation facilities has increased in recent years and that a gender bias exists. Additionally, there is little or no evidence available on the effect that a post-acute care programme might have over an extended period on functioning, quality of life and the informal network of older people. Therefore, the aim of this trial is to evaluate the sustainability of post-acute care within three nursing homes in Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.

METHODS

The Prevention Admission into Nursing homes (PAN) study is a explorative, prospective, longitudinal pilot trial based on a convenience sample of three long-term care facilities in the Swiss Canton of Zurich. The proposed pilot study will examine the effects of a post-acute care programme on people aged ≥65 years with a post-acute care potential ≥ three admitted to any of the three post-acute care units (n = 260). Older people of all sexes admitted to one of the post-acute care units and likely to be discharged to home within 8 weeks will be eligible for participation in the study. The primary endpoint is functionality based on the Barthel Index. The secondary endpoints are independency based on delirium, cognition, mobility, falling concerns, frailty, weight/height/body mass index, post-acute care capability, quality of life, and lastly, the informal network. As part of process evaluation, a qualitative evaluation will be conducted based on constructive grounded theory to specifically analyse how the experience of informal caregivers (n = 30) can contribute to a successful daily life 6 months after discharge.

DISCUSSION

We expect to observe improved functional status and independence after the post-acute care programme. The qualitative evaluation conducted with caregivers will complement our description of the transition of older people towards living at home.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register under DRKS00016647 (registered on 23.05.2019).

Preinjury Functional Independence is not Associated with Discharge Location in Older Trauma Patients

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between pre-injury Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (Katz ADL) functional status and discharge to a facility in non-neurologically injured older trauma patients.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 207 patients in the Trauma Medical Home study cohort. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with non-home discharge.

RESULTS

Average patient age was 67.9 (SD 11.1). Patients were predominantly white (89.4%) and female (52.2%) with a median ISS of 11 (IQR 9-14). The most common mechanism of injury was fall (48.3%), followed by motor vehicle crash (41.1%). Nearly all patients (94.7%) reported independence in activities of daily living prior to hospitalization for injury. Discharge disposition varied, 51.7% of patients were discharged home, 37.7% to subacute rehabilitation, 10.1% to acute rehabilitation and 0.5% to long-term acute care. There was no relationship between pre-injury independence and likelihood of discharge home (P = 0.1331). Age (P < 0.0001), BMI (P = 0.0002), Charlson comorbidity score of 3 or greater (P = 0.0187), being single (P = 0.0077), ISS ≥ 16 (P = 0.0075) and being female with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression over the past two weeks (P = 0.0092) were associated with significantly greater odds of non-home discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-injury Katz ADL is not associated with discharge disposition, though other significantly associated factors were identified. It is imperative that discussions regarding discharge disposition are initiated early during acute hospitalization. Trauma programs could potentially benefit from implementing an inpatient intervention focused on building coping skills for older patients exhibiting symptoms of anxiety or depression.

The effect of the Affordable Care Act on rates on inpatient rehabilitation hospital admission in a mature trauma system

BACKGROUND

The beneficial effects of acute rehabilitation for trauma patients are well documented but can be limited because of insurance coverage. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect on March 23, 2010. The ACA allowed patients who previously did not have insurance to be fully incorporated into the health system. We sought to analyze the likelihood of discharge to rehab for trauma patients before and after the implementation of the ACA. We hypothesized that there would be a higher rate of inpatient rehabilitation hospital (IRH) admission after the ACA was put into effect.

METHODS

The Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS) database was retrospectively queried from 2003 to 2017 for all trauma patients admitted to accredited trauma centers in Pennsylvania, who also had a functional status at discharge (FSD). Admission to an IRH was determined using discharge destination. Two categories were created to represent periods before and after ACA was implemented, 2003 to 2009 (pre-ACA) and 2010-2017 (post-ACA). A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model controlling for demographics, injury severity, and FSD assessed the adjusted impact of ACA implementation on IRH admissions.

RESULTS

From the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study query, 341,252 patients had FSD scores and of these patients, 47,522 (13.9%) were admitted to IRH. Patients who were severely injured were more likely to be admitted to IRH. Compared with FSD scores signifying complete independence at discharge, those with lower FSD had significantly increased odds of IRH admission. The odds of IRH admission post-ACA implementation significantly increased when compared with pre-ACA years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.17; p < 0.001; area under the receiver operating curve, 0.818).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the ACA significantly increased the likelihood of discharge to IRH for trauma patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Care management, level III.

Interhospital variability in time to discharge to rehabilitation among insured trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Hospital costs are partly a function of length of stay (LOS), which can be impacted by the local availability of postacute care (PAC) resources (inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities), particularly for injured patients. We hypothesized that LOS for trauma patients destined for PAC would be variable based on insurance type and hospitals from which they are discharged.

METHODS

We used the 2014 to 2015 National Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. We included all adult admissions with a primary diagnosis of trauma (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes), who were insured and discharged to PAC. We then ranked hospitals based upon mean LOS and divided them into quartiles to determine differences. The primary outcome was inpatient LOS; secondary outcome was cost.

RESULTS

There are 958,005 trauma patients that met the inclusion criteria. Mean LOS varied based upon insurance type (Medicaid vs. Private vs. Medicare: 12.7 days vs. 8.8 days and 5.7 days; p < 0.001). Shortest LOS hospitals had a marginal variation in LOS (Medicaid vs. Private vs. Medicare: 5.5 days vs. 4.8 days vs. 4.2 days; p < 0.001). Longest LOS hospitals had mean LOS that varied substantially (16.4 days vs. 11.0 days vs. 6.7 days; p < 0.001). Multivariate regression controlling for patient and hospital characteristics revealed that Medicaid patients spent Medicaid patients spent an additional 0.4 days in shortest LOS hospitals and an additional 2.6 days in longest LOS hospitals (p < 0.001). The average daily cost of inpatient care was US $3,500 (SD, US $132). Even with conservative estimates, Medicaid patients at hospitals without easy access to rehabilitation incur significant additional inpatient costs over $10,000 in some hospitals.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged LOS is likely a function of access to postacute facilities, which is largely out of the hands of trauma centers. Efficiencies in care are magnified by access to postacute beds, suggesting that increased availability of rehabilitation facilities, particularly for Medicaid patients, might help to reduce LOS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic, level III; care management, level IV.

Predictors of Dependency in Geriatric Trauma Patients with Rib Fractures: A Population Study

The geriatric trauma population is unique. These patients are at risk of being discharged to rehabilitation or a skilled nursing facility, instead of being returned to their homes, placing a significant burden on both the patient families and society. This study evaluated which patient characteristics increase the likelihood of a previously independent geriatric blunt trauma becoming functionally dependent and being discharged to a location other than home. Data were extracted from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2012 to 2014 for blunt trauma patients ≥65 years old, admitted from home, with one or more rib fractures. Primary outcomes were discharge home versus a facility. Subgroup analysis evaluated disposition to acute short-term rehabilitation or subacute rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility. Multivariable analysis was used to calculate probabilities of disposition based on the above variables, controlling for comorbidities. Sixteen thousand six hundred thirty-two patients were included. Only 58 per cent were discharged home. Increased age, ≥4 rib fractures, white race, and female gender were found to increase the risk of discharge to a facility. In addition, patients with chronic renal failure, history of diabetes, obesity, or heart failure were less likely to be discharged home. This study shows that age, gender, race, and the number of rib fractures are statistically significant in predicting which patients are less likely to be discharged home. This reinforces the need for the development of triage and treatment protocols in this higher risk population, to decrease the social and financial burden of these injuries.