Introduction of the Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service

• Main Authors: Merehau Cindy Mervin (Author), Ruth Barker (Author), Cindy Stealey (Author), Tracy Comans (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: ACHSM, 2017-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Objective: To analyse trends in length of hospital stay before and after the implementation of the Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service (CRNQ) in Townsville, Australia. Design: Retrospective analysis of collected administrative data provided by the data custodian Townsville Hospital Health Service District. Setting: All patients discharged from the Townsville hospital between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2013 for whom the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups were stroke (B70), degenerative nervous system disorders (B67) or rehabilitation (Z60). Main outcome measures: Average length of stay and total number of inpatient episodes coded stroke, degenerative nervous system disorders or rehabilitation. Results: Length of stay for the selected diagnosis related groups was consistently ranging from 23 days to 25 days for the period 2008-2012. In the first year of full operational capacity of CRNQ (2012-13), there was an average reduction of six days in length of stay. The major reductions in length of stay occurred in patients admitted for rehabilitation care. Conclusions: This study adds additional evidence that earlier discharge can be facilitated for patients with neurological conditions living outside metropolitan areas when appropriate rehabilitation services are available in the community. Abbreviations: AR-DRG - Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups; CRNQ - Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service.

Item Description

10.24083/apjhm.v12i1.97
1833-3818
2204-3136