Predictors of transfer from rehabilitation to acute care in burn injuries

Department

Health Promotion

Document Type

Article

Publication Source

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Publication Date

2012-12-01

Volume

73

Issue

6

First Page

1596

Last Page

1601

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Transfer to acute care from rehabilitation represents an interruption in a patient's recovery and a potential deficiency in quality of care. The objective of this study was to examine predictors of transfer to acute care in the inpatient burn rehabilitation population. METHODS: Data are obtained from Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation from 2002 to 2010 for patients with a primary diagnosis of burn injury. Predictor variables include demographic, medical, and facility data. Descriptive statistics are calculated for acute and nonacute transfer patients. Logistic regression analysis is used to determine significant predictors of acute transfer within the first 3 days. A scoring system is developed to determine the risk of acute transfer. RESULTS: There were 78 acute transfers in the first 3 days of a total of 4,572 burn admissions. Functional level at admission, age, and admission classification are significant predictors of transfer to acute care (p < 0.05). Total body surface area burned and medical comorbidities were not significantly associated with acute transfer risk. A 12-point acute transfer risk scoring system was developed, which demonstrates validity. CONCLUSION: Efforts to reduce readmissions to acute care should include greater scrutiny of older, lower-functioning patients with burn injury who are evaluated for admission to inpatient rehabilitation. This acute transfer scoring system may be useful to clinicians, health care institutions, and policymakers to help predict those patients at highest risk for early transfer to the acute hospital from rehabilitation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/diagnostic study, level II. © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Keywords

Burn injury, complications, outcomes, rehabilitation, risk factors

DOI

10.1097/TA.0b013e318270d73d

https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318270d73d

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