Brain Injury Association of America Endorses Study on Inpatient Rehab Outcomes

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) president and CEO Susan Connors spoke today at a Congressional briefing hosted by Sens. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). The briefing was held to announce the results of a study on outcomes for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC.

The study, Assessment of Patient Outcomes of Rehabilitative Care Provided in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and After Discharge, is the most comprehensive national analysis to date examining the long-term outcomes of clinically similar patient populations treated in inpatient rehabilitation settings and skilled nursing facilities. The research shows that people with brain injuries and strokes treated in inpatient rehabilitation settings had better long-term clinical outcomes than those who only receive treatment in a skilled nursing facility.

“The Brain Injury Association of America is pleased to participate in the release of this seminal study,” said Connors during the briefing. “It proves what family members and advocates have known all along: care provided in a skilled nursing facility is not the same as an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.”

The study’s key findings show that:

• People with brain injuries treated in inpatient rehabilitation settings returned home sooner, remained home longer, and lived longer than those who receive care in a skilled nursing facility; and
• People with brain injuries treated in inpatient rehabilitation settings also had lower mortality rates and fewer emergency room visits per year than those in a skilled nursing facility.

“The study demonstrates that people with brain injury – both TBI and stroke –treated in a rehab hospital or unit go home sooner and live longer,” said Connors. “They have fewer ER visits and fewer hospital re-admissions than patients who get SNF care.”

To see the full study, click here.

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BIAA is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance brain injury prevention, research, treatment, and education, and to improve the quality of life for all individuals impacted by brain injury. Through advocacy, we bring help, hope, and healing to millions of individuals living with brain injury, their families and the professionals who serve them.