Casemix and rehabilitation: evaluation of an early discharge scheme

Aust Health Rev. 2000;23(3):154-61. doi: 10.1071/ah000154.

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of an early discharge scheme funded by casemix incentives and discusses limitations of a casemix model of funding whereby hospital inpatient care is funded separately from care in other settings. The POSITIVE Rehabilitation program received 151 patients discharged early from hospital in a twelve-month period. Program evaluation demonstrates a 40.9% drop in the average length of stay of rehabilitation patients and a 42.6% drop in average length of stay for patients with stroke. Other benefits of the program include a high level of patient satisfaction, improved carer support and increased continuity of care. The challenge under the Australian interpretation of a casemix model of funding is ensuring the viability of services that extend across acute hospital, non-acute care, and community and home settings.

MeSH terms

  • Aftercare*
  • Case Management
  • Community Health Centers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diagnosis-Related Groups / economics*
  • Efficiency, Organizational
  • Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Organizational Case Studies
  • Patient Care Team
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data
  • Program Evaluation
  • Queensland
  • Rehabilitation / economics*
  • Reimbursement, Incentive*