Young spinal cord injured patients in nursing homes: rehospitalization issues and outcomes

Most spinal cord injured (SCI) patients are discharged to their homes and families after they complete their initial rehabilitation program. Nursing homes, however, were the discharge destinations for 3.9% of all SCI patients nationally. When a nursing home is the only discharge option for a young SCI adult, certain economic, medical and psychosocial incongruencies make this placement potentially stressful for both the nursing home staff and the young patient. This study of the rehospitalization of 12 SCI patients under the age of 50 who were discharged to nursing homes explores the issues of cost, care and outcome during their first year following nursing home admission. Nine of the 12 patients were rehospitalized a total of 21 times, mainly for urinary tract infections and decubiti. Charges for 18 of these 21 rehospitalizations amounted to over $423,110 for 599 days of care. Four of these 9 patients died before the end of the first year. Although this is a retrospective study of the medical records and follow up data for a small key group of SCI patients, it calls attention to the need for continued investigation into the outcomes of a minimally visible population that lacks advocacy for change.