Enhanced Rehabilitation Program in Acute Care: New Program Development and Results in Response to Delayed Hospital Discharges

Problem: The objective of this project was to evaluate and describe the flow of patients who have delayed discharge after they have participated in an enhanced therapy program. Approach: In the current practice, which started in 2021, the care coordination team identifies patients medically ready for discharge but with barriers. Working with the rehabilitation team, the care coordination team determines if the patient is suitable for the enhanced therapy program. These patients go on to receive 1 hour of physical therapy and 1 hour of occupational therapy each day, Monday through Friday, with the goal of discharge to home. Outcomes: The evaluation of this program focused on the length of stay, discharge destination, and number of days in the enhanced therapy program. Next Steps: The evaluation will use anonymous data collected as part of the standard practice in care coordination.