Community outreach rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
to review controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of community rehabilitation schemes developed to facilitate effective discharge from hospital. To briefly describe the community outreach rehabilitation scheme which has been developed in York, UK.


RESULTS
in the last 10 years, 9 controlled trials were identified of which 6 resulted in improved outcome. There were no overall or mixed outcome differences observed in the other 3. Cost analysis calculations were controversial. However, in 4 of the studies early structured discharge appeared to result in cost savings-mainly by reducing hospital length of stay.


CONCLUSIONS
though the studies were heterogeneous in design and involved different patient groups, community rehabilitation schemes appeared to be effective in facilitating earlier discharge from hospital.
Heseltine
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Medicine for the Elderly, District Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE, UK. Julia.Nicolson@EXCHA.YHS-TR.NORTHY.NHS.UK
D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019058:Community Networks / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000592:standards*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012046:Rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce