For Patients

Key Study Findings

Assessment of Patient Outcomes of Rehabilitative Care Provided in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and After Discharge conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC, studied a national sample of Medicare fee-for-service claims data for a two-year period after illness or injury to compare the clinical outcomes and Medicare payments for patients who received rehabilitation in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital to clinically similar patients in nursing homes. The study’s key findings show:

  • Over a two-year study period, inpatient rehabilitation hospital and unit patients clinically comparable to skilled nursing facility patients, on average:
    • Returned home from their initial hospital rehabilitation stay two weeks earlier
    • Remained home nearly two months longer
    • Stayed alive nearly two months longer
  • Of matched patients treated:
    • Inpatient rehabilitation hospital and unit patients showed an 8 percent lower mortality rate than skilled nursing facility patients>
    • Inpatient rehabilitation hospital and unit patients with 5 of the 13 diagnostic conditions – amputation, brain injury, hip fracture, major medical complexity and pain syndrome – had significantly fewer hospital readmissions than skilled nursing facility patients
    • Inpatient rehabilitation hospital and unit patients made 5 percent fewer emergency room visits per year than skilled nursing facility patients

Amputation

  • Over a two-year study period, patients with limb loss treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units compared to those treated in skilled nursing facilities, on average:
    • Returned home from their initial hospital rehabilitation stay 16 days earlier
    • Remained home nearly three months longer
    • Stayed alive more than 2 1/2 months longer
  • Individuals with limb loss treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units also experienced:
    • 12 percent lower mortality rate than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 16 percent fewer emergency room visits per year than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 43 percent fewer hospital readmissions per year than skilled nursing facility patients

Brain Injury

  • Brain injury patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units compared to those treated in skilled nursing facilities, on average:
    • Returned home from their initial rehabilitation hospital stay 17 days earlier
    • Remained home more than three months longer
    • Stayed alive more than three months longer
  • Brain injury patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units also experienced:
    • 16 percent lower mortality rate than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 4 percent fewer emergency room visits per year than skilled nursing facility patients

Stroke

  • Stroke patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units compared to those treated in skilled nursing facilities, on average:
    • Returned home from their initial rehabilitation hospital stay 17 days earlier
    • Remained home more than three months longer
    • Stayed alive more than three months longer
  • Stroke patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units also experienced:
    • 14 percent lower mortality rate than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 4 percent fewer emergency room visits per year than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 10 percent fewer hospital readmissions per year than skilled nursing facility patients

Hip Fracture

  • Over a two-year study period, patients with hip fracture treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units compared to those treated in skilled nursing facilities, on average:
    • Returned home from their initial hospital rehabilitation stay 19 days earlier
    • Remained home nearly 2 months longer (53 days)
    • Stayed alive more than three months longer
  • Individuals with hip fracture treated in inpatient rehabilitation hospital and units also experienced:
    • 11 percent lower mortality rate than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 4 percent fewer emergency room visits per year than skilled nursing facility patients
    • 5 percent fewer hospital readmissions per year than skilled nursing facility patients

Study Summary Condition Specific PDF