FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME DIFFERENCES IN ACUTE VERSUS SUBACUTE GERIATRIC REHABILITATION

The present study compared 69 acute and 53 subacute geriatric rehabili tation patients matched on demographic and medical characteristics. Pa tients were admitted for rehabilitation secondary to stroke, hip fract ures, deconditioning, and amputation. Patients had a mean age of 78 ye ars; 64% were women, and 40% were African American. Subacute patients had significantly lower Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores a t admission and at discharge, despite having a mean length of stay of 36 days versus 13 days in the acute sample. Differences were found on discharge disposition, with 74% of the acute sample returning to the c ommunity compared to 51% of the subacute sample. These data highlight the differences between the acute and subacute patients and may sugges t that the goals of subacute care be redefined.