What are the characteristics of patients requiring reconditioning admitted to tertiary care inpatient rehabilitation services? An exploratory audit

ObjectiveTo determine the characteristics of patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation services for reconditioning to inform clinical care.DesignAn exploratory audit.SettingA major tertiary hospital service in Australia providing 48 inpatient beds across two facilities.ParticipantsPatients admitted to a rehabilitation service over two years (2019-2020) and categorised under Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre impairment codes for reconditioning.Main measuresDemographic and clinical service data.MethodsDescriptive analysis of data from the hospital admissions data base.ResultsOf the 368 patients in the study sample (432 admissions), the age range was 22-100 years of age (mean<i> = </i>75 years). Data on smoking, language and age groups was trended and identified a younger group of patients with 16% (58 of 368 patients) being aged 60 and under. The gender split was 54.2% male and 45.8% female. Admissions of Indigenous people was higher than the recorded population with females being disproportionately categorised as deconditioned, and an overall mean age 24 years younger than the sample mean. Identified for increased attention were nephology patients and a group of 58 people (15.7%) with two or more admissions for reconditioning rehabilitation in the two-year period. This group were older (aged over 80) and male.ConclusionLiterature on reconditioning programs has a predominant focus on the older, more frail population. Patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation for reconditioning are a diverse population and further study is required to determine effective interventions for specific groups of patients, particularly younger cohorts, and those with frequent readmissions.