Determining the need for in-patient rehabilitation services post-stroke: results from eight ontario hospitals.
BACKGROUND
The number of patients requiring in-patient rehabilitation services following acute stroke is unknown.


METHODS
All consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of stroke to eight community hospitals in southwestern Ontario from May 2008 to December 2009 were screened for in-patient rehabilitation eligibility using the Stroke Rehabilitation Candidacy Screening Tool.


RESULTS
Three hundred ninety-six patients were included, of which 147 (37.1%) were identified as candidates for in-patient rehabilitation. Of these patients, 111 (75%) were discharged to an in-patient rehabilitation unit. The most frequently documented reason that candidates were not transferred was lack of an available bed (n=19). Two hundred forty-nine (62.9%) patients were not considered candidates. The majority (80%) of these patients had experienced either mildly or severely disabling stroke and went home or directly to long-term care upon discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported estimate of 37% who required in-patient rehabilitation services is important for the purposes of planning and allocation of healthcare resources.
Regional Rehabilitation Coordinator, Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON.
Deborah
D
Willems
Katherine
K
Salter
Matthew
M
Meyer
Andrew
A
McClure
Robert
R
Teasell
Norine
N
Foley