Why choose inpatient medical rehabilitation?

According to a 2014 study by Dobson DaVanzo et al., clinically comparable patients who stayed at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital instead of a skilled nursing facility, on average, returned home two weeks earlier, remained home nearly two months longer, stayed alive nearly two months longer, showed an 8% lower mortality rate and had 5% fewer emergency room visits per year. 

The following diagnostic conditions also showed significantly fewer hospital readmissions: amputation, brain injury, hip fracture, major medical complexity, and pain syndrome. Learn more about specific conditions and their outcomes below.

Outcomes by Condition

Amputation | Brain Injury | Burns | Hip Fracture | Stroke | Trauma Patients

Amputation
Over a two-year study period, patients with limb loss treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals returned home from their initial rehabilitation stay 16 days earlier, remained home nearly three months longer and stayed alive more than 2 ½ months longer than those treated in skilled nursing facilities.

In addition, those same patients experienced a 12% lower mortality rate, 16% fewer emergency room visits, and 43% fewer hospital readmissions per year on average than those treated at a skilled nursing facility.

Brain Injury
Brain injury patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units, on average, returned home from their initial rehabilitation hospital stay 17 days earlier, remained home more than 3 months longer, and stayed alive more than 3 months longer than those treated in skilled nursing facilities.

Those patients also experienced a 16% lower mortality rate, and 4% fewer emergency room visits per year than those treated at skilled nursing facilities.

Burns
A 2019 study compared outcomes for patients with burn injuries at comparable skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals/units.

The study concluded that patients with more severe burns were more likely to choose an inpatient rehabilitation facility due to co-morbid conditions that often occur with burns, including inhalation and respiratory injuries and, in extreme cases, amputation.

While the burn patients came to the inpatient rehabilitation hospital/unit more severely injured, they returned home with better outcomes, including being 10 times more likely to return to employment within 12 months of injury. In addition to returning to community participation – a key factor in any recovery journey – survivors who are employed report lower rates of:

• Mental distress
• Psychosocial concerns
• Patient-reported pain
• Smoking

Overall, employment after a significant medical incident is associated with higher patient-reported quality of life.

Hip Fracture
Over a two-year study period, patients with hip fracture treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units, on average, returned home from their initial hospital rehabilitation stay 19 days earlier, remained home nearly 2 months or 53 days longer and stayed alive more than three months longer compared to those treated in skilled nursing facilities.

Individuals with hip fracture treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospital and units also experienced an 11% lower mortality rate, 4% fewer emergency room visits per year and 5% fewer hospital readmissions per year than skilled nursing facility patients.

Stroke
Stroke patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units, on average, returned home from their initial rehabilitation hospital stay 17 days earlier, remained home more than 3 months longer and stayed alive more than 3 months longer than those treated at skilled nursing facilities.

Stroke patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units also experienced a 14% lower mortality rate, 4% fewer emergency room visits, and 10% fewer hospital readmissions per year than skilled nursing facility patients.

A 2019 study showed improved physical and cognitive function in patients that stayed at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals/units over those discharged from skilled nursing facilities. On average, those who stayed at inpatient medical rehabilitation hospitals and units tested 5 to 10 points higher on mobility functional scores, and 8 to 12 points higher on self-care functional scores than those treated at skilled nursing facilities.

Trauma Patients
A 2019 study showed that trauma patients treated at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units have significantly increased functional independence and were more likely to be discharged to their home.

In addition, they have decreased mortality at the 1 year mark following their injury. Trauma patients treated at skilled nursing facilities, alternatively, have an increased risk of mortality.