The brain recovery core:  building a system of organized stroke rehabilitation and outcomes assessment across the continuum of care.
This Special Interest article describes a multidisciplinary, interinstitutional effort to build an organized system of stroke rehabilitation and outcomes measurement across the continuum of care. This system is focused on a cohort of patients who are admitted with the diagnosis of stroke to our acute facility, are discharged to inpatient and/or outpatient rehabilitation at our free-standing facility, and are then discharged to the community. This article first briefly explains the justification, goals, and purpose of the Brain Recovery Core system. The next sections describe its development and implementation, with details on the aspects related to physical therapy. The article concludes with an assessment of how the Brain Recovery Core system has changed and improved delivery of rehabilitation services. It is hoped that the contents of this article will be useful in initiating discussions and potentially facilitating similar efforts among other centers.
Programs in Physical Therapy, Washington University, USA. langc@wustl.edu
Catherine E
CE
Lang
Marghuretta D
MD
Bland
Lisa Tabor
LT
Connor
Robert
R
Fucetola
Michelle
M
Whitson
Jeff
J
Edmiaston
Clayton
C
Karr
Audra
A
Sturmoski
Jack
J
Baty
Maurizio
M
Corbetta
D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation