Casemix and rehabilitation: evaluation of an early discharge scheme.
This paper presents a case study of an early discharge scheme funded by casemix incentives and discusses limitations of a casemix model of funding whereby hospital inpatient care is funded separately from care in other settings. The POSITIVE Rehabilitation program received 151 patients discharged early from hospital in a twelve-month period. Program evaluation demonstrates a 40.9% drop in the average length of stay of rehabilitation patients and a 42.6% drop in average length of stay for patients with stroke. Other benefits of the program include a high level of patient satisfaction, improved carer support and increased continuity of care. The challenge under the Australian interpretation of a casemix model of funding is ensuring the viability of services that extend across acute hospital, non-acute care, and community and home settings.
Brandis
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Occupational Therapy Services, Gold Coast Health District Service, Queensland.
D000359:Aftercare; D019090:Case Management; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011793:Queensland; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000191:economics*; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive