Intensity of rehabilitation and length of stay

This study investigated the effects of different levels of brain injury rehabilitation intensity on length of stay in two hospital-based coma and acute rehabilitation populations. In two hospitals, in separate areas of the USA, rehabilitation intensity was increased from 5 h per day to 8 h per day, 7 days per week. Patients were studied retrospectively both before and after the change in intensity. There were no significant differences among subjects in age, education, time since injury or level of functioning on admission either across hospitals or from pre- to post-change-in-intensity. Results show that the length of stay significantly decreased 31% for both coma and acute groups in both hospitals. Implications of these findings for clinical treatment and social policy are discussed.