Abstract
Objective : The aim of the present study was to clarify the characteristics of patients at recovery-care hospitals in an average secondary medical region transferred from acute-care hospitals and their discharge destinations, in order to promote region-based total medical care. Participants and Methods : A retrospective survey was conducted using the medical records of 265 patients transferred in fiscal 2007 and the data were investigated stratified by discharge destination using descriptive statistics. Results : The mean age of the patients was 76.5 years. Of the total, 47.1% had cerebrovascular diseases, 41.6% applied for long-term care insurance, and 91.3% received discharge planning. The discharge destination was an institution for 40.0% of the patients, including a health care facility for 18.9% of these patients. Patients whose non-home discharge destinations were located within the secondary medical region for their residences accounted for 77.4%, and those who went to a welfare facility accounted for 50.0%. Comparison of the patient characteristics between home and non-home discharge destinations revealed significant differences in the admission rate to a recovery-care ward, length of hospitalization at the original hospital, total length of hospitalization, medical treatment, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, and number of family members. Conclusion : It is necessary to improve home care support services and other institutions, as well as improve the ADL, prevent progression of dementia, provide support for long-term care insurance application and share patients' information among in-hospital staff, in addition to providing medical treatment.
