Who waits for inpatient rehabilitation services in Canada after neurotrauma? A population based-study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined characteristics of patients with acquired brain injury associated with wait times for inpatient rehabilitation compared with a control population of patients with acquired spinal cord injury.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was based on 9458 patients captured in the National Rehabilitation Reporting System in Canada.


RESULTS
Waiting for inpatient rehabilitation was found to be associated with language, geographical location, informal support, pre-admission living arrangement and payer source. The median differences in wait time, however, were at most a few days. Persons already receiving care had the longest median wait times.


CONCLUSIONS
The data reflect only the perspective of providers, and further research needs to examine days to inpatient admission using data from acute care.
Colantonio
Angela
A
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca
Gerber
Gary
G
Bayley
Mark
M
Deber
Raisa
R
Kim
Hwan
H
Yin
Junlang
J
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D018579:Patient Selection; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists