Functional recovery unit national map. FUN-RUN Map Project

Functional recovery units (FRUs) provide bed-based functional reablement for adults affected by morbidity-related or healthcare system-induced functional decline. Despite strong evidence supporting their efficacy, FRU development has been uneven within national territory. This project aims to identify territorial accessibility to FRUs in Spain in 2024. The project's objectives included describing structure-process-outcome indicators and collecting staff opinions on some of these metrics.

A cross-sectional study was designed using a piloted questionnaire in an encrypted online platform, comprising sociodemographics, center-characteristics, unit-characteristics, and staff opinions. Inclusion criteria included publicly funded hospital units focused on geriatric rehabilitation, managed by physicians with MIR specialty. One hundred IC-Hospitals (ICH) were identified as potentially eligible within the National Catalogue of Hospitals, 55 centers meeting inclusion criteria where clinical referees were identified.

Thirty-two questionnaires completed (response rate 58%) by geriatricians (81.25%), with an average of 13.4 years of FRU-experience. Geographic representation included 11 provinces and eight autonomous communities. 87.5% of FRUs are located in ICH and have an average experience of 22.69 years. 0.52 beds per 1000 inhabitants >65 years and 1.7 beds per 1000 >80 years were described in the provinces represented, and a national ratio of 0.2 beds/1000 >65 years and 0.7 beds/1000 >80 years. Staff ratios of 15.94 and 14.91 beds/doctor and beds/nurse slightly differ from the opinion of referees ideal of 14.3 beds/doctor and 11.7 beds/nurse. Structure, process and outcomes indicators are exhaustively described.

A national consensus is needed, integrating general recommendations/processes, Quality-standards stratification to optimize effectiveness and efficiency of these units and patients' opinions to improve care quality and standards.