title: Race, Rehabilitation, and 30-Day Readmission After Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine racial variations in access to postacute care (PAC) and rehabilitation (Rehab) services following elective total knee arthroplasty and whether where patients go after surgery for PAC/Rehab is associated with 30-day readmission to acute care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample consisted of 129 522 patients discharged from 169 hospitals in the State of Pennsylvania between fiscal years 2008 and 2012. We used multinomial regression models to assess the relationship between patient race and discharge destination after surgery, for patients aged 18 to 64 years and for those aged 65 and older. We used multivariable (MV) regression and propensity score (PS) approaches to examine the relationship between patient discharge destination after surgery for PAC/Rehab and 30-day readmission, controlling for key individual- and facility-level factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower proportions of younger patients compared to those older than 65 were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs; 5.8% vs 12.6%, respectively) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs; 15.2% vs 32.7%, respectively) compared to home-based Rehab (self-care; 23.3% vs 14.2%, respectively). Compared to whites, African American patients had significantly higher odds of discharge to IRF (age < 65, odds ratio = 2.04; age ≥ 65, odds ratio = 1.64) and to SNF (age < 65, odds ratio = 2.86; age ≥ 65, odds ratio = 2.19) and discharge to home care in patients younger than 65 years (odds ratio = 1.31). The odds of 30-day readmission among patients discharged to an IRF (MV odds ratio = 7.76; PS odds ratio = 8.34) and SNF (MV odds ratio = 2.01; PS odds ratio = 1.83) were significantly higher in comparison to patients discharged home with self-care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African American patients with knee replacement are more likely to be discharged to inpatient Rehab settings following surgery. Inpatient Rehab is significantly associated with 30-day readmission to acute care facility.
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Erik S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jorgenson
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Arwin M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thomasson
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA ; Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA ; Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Said A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
keywords: access; hospital readmissions; patient-centered outcomes; post-acute care; racial disparity; total knee arthroplasty