Abstract
To introduce a better stroke rehabilitation system, a liaison critical pathway was developed at the Hyogo Brain and Heart Center between the acute stroke center and the stroke rehabilitation department. This was a trial model to strengthen partnerships among the various medical institutions in our community and to introduce a better regional inter-hospital stroke rehabilitation referral system.
Results of a study conducted 1-year after the introduction of the liaison critical pathway shows that the length of hospital stay decreased and activities of daily living for stroke patients improved, compared to before its introduction. During the 1-year trial period, solutions were offered for issues such as differences in evaluations at 2 medical institutions. Attention was also paid to the relationship between the length of hospital stay and stroke patients' activities of daily living.
As a result of this trial, the use of this liaison critical pathway has presently been expanded to various acute stroke centers and stroke rehabilitation hospitals at the Nakaharima disrict in Hyogo Prefecture.
