Early inpatient rehabilitation admission and stroke patient outcomes

This is not really worthwhile data since currently there is no objective basis for classifying damage. Mild, moderate and severe do not correlate to any measurement of cubic cm. of dead brain and its location or any measure of penumbra damage. Until we get to size and location to describe stroke damage we can't make any comparisons at all.
http://search.naric.com/research/rehab/redesign_record.cfm?search=2&type=all&criteria=J70730&phrase=no&rec=127154
 American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Volume 94(2) , Pgs. 85-100.

NARIC Accession Number: J70730.  What's this?
ISSN: 0894-9115.
Author(s): Wang, Hua; Camicia, Michelle; Divita, Magaret; Mix, Jacqueline; Niewczyk, Paulette.
Publication Year: 2015.
Number of Pages: 16.
Abstract: Study examined the relationship between the time from stroke onset to inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission (onset days) and patient outcomes, using nationally representative data. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a random sample of stroke patients discharged from IRFs in the United States between 2009 and 2011, including 649 mildly, 2,185 moderately, and 2,390 severely impaired patients. The rehabilitation outcomes of interest include Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, discharge destination, and IRF length of stay (LOS). The onset day variable was analyzed as a continuous variable and a categorical variable (0 to 2, 3 to 7, 8 to 14, and 15 to 365 days). The median of onset days for the total study sample was 5.5, with an interquartile range of 4 to 9 days. Severely impaired patients had a higher cognition gain and were more likely to be discharged to the community when admitted within 7 days, a greater motor gain when admitted within 14 days, and a lower risk for acute hospital transfer when admitted 3 to 7 days. Moderately impaired patients had a greater motor gain when admitted within 7 days. Early IRF admission was also associated with a shorter LOS. The results indicated that earlier IRF admission was beneficial among severely and moderately impaired patients. IRF admission within 7 days is recommended for stroke patients who achieved medical stability.
Descriptor Terms: EARLY INTERVENTION, FUNCTIONAL STATUS, OUTCOMES, REHABILITATION FACILITIES, STROKE.

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Citation: Wang, Hua, Camicia, Michelle, Divita, Magaret, Mix, Jacqueline, Niewczyk, Paulette. (2015). Early inpatient rehabilitation admission and stroke patient outcomes. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 94(2), Pgs. 85-100. Retrieved 5/13/2015, from REHABDATA database.