The congressional mandate: standardised post-acute care quality measures

Abstract

Background/Aims This study describes the relationships between rehabilitation services intensity, post-acute care measures of Functional Performance Change, and length of stay for episodes of care provided in 93 skilled nursing facilities in the US. Methods The study used a secondary analysis of existing data on Medicare beneficiaries admitted to skilled nursing facilities from acute hospitals (n=518) who subsequently returned to the community. Data were selected from Minimum Data Set Section GG items reported by therapists. Results Statistically significant correlations were identified between rehabilitation services intensity and functional outcomes (P<0.001); and between rehabilitation intensity, medical condition, and length of stay (P<0.001) for rehabilitation patients in skilled nursing facilities. Conclusions The intensity of occupational and physical rehabilitation therapy services correlate with patients achieving higher functional outcomes, specifically improvement in self-care and mobility.