Outcomes of enhanced physical and occupational therapy service in a nursing home setting.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if 1.0 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) physical therapy (PT) and 1.0 FTE occupational therapy (OT) per 50 beds resulted in differences in functional status for nursing home residents when compared to 1.0 FTE PT and 1.0 FTE OT per 200 beds.


METHODS
Randomized control program evaluation, cost analysis.


METHODS
Nursing home in the province of Alberta, Canada.


METHODS
115 residents assigned to 1 PT and 1 OT per 50 beds (enhanced group) versus 1 PT and 1 OT per 200 beds (control group) using stratified random allocation by severity of condition.


METHODS
Both groups received ongoing treatment, follow-up, and restorative interventions, but enhanced group received more hours of service.


METHODS
Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Functional Assessment Measures (FAM), and Clinical Outcome Variables Scale (COVS) recorded at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period.


RESULTS
Mean score differences favored the enhanced group for the tests over the 2 years. Significance was observed on FIM Total at 6 and 12 months, FIM Self Care at 6 months, FIM Communication at 24 months, and FIM Psychosocial at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months; FAM Total at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, FAM Self Care at 6 months, FAM Mobility at 12 months, FAM Communication at 6 and 24 months, FAM Psychosocial at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, and FAM Cognition at 6 and 12 months; and COVS at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. A cost analysis demonstrated that PT/OT offered at the 1:50 ratio would result in a cost savings in terms of nursing staff dollars for 30 long-term-care beds of $16,973 over the 2 years of the study compared to the 1:200 ratio. This equates to an annual cost savings of $283 per bed.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing the amount of PT/OT can have a positive effect on the functional status and cost of care of long-term care residents.
Przybylski
B R
BR
Rehabilitation Department, Salem Manor Nursing Home, Leduc, Canada.
Dumont
E D
ED
Watkins
M E
ME
Warren
S A
SA
Beaulne
A P
AP
Lier
D A
DA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008124:Locomotion; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000191:economics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics; D012648:Self Care