Referral to rehabilitation services of patients discharged from a general hospital with a potentially disabling condition

Background: Patients discharged from general hospitals with a potentially disabling condition can benefit in their recovery with the aid of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Aim: To determine the proportion of patients discharged from a general hospital with a potentially disabling condition, who were derived to physiatry for rehabilitation. Material and Methods: Review of the discharge database of a general hospital, identifying all discharges with a potentially disabling condition, and those who were effectively derived for rehabilitation. Results: Only 7% of patients with a potentially disabling condition were effectively evaluated by Physiatry. Among these patients, 20% had neurological diseases and 19% had an amputation. Those attended by physiatry had a higher proportion of multidisciplinary care by the rehabilitation team. Conclusions: A low proportion of patients discharged with a potentially disabling conditions are referred for an adequate rehabilitation therapy