Researchers published findings in a paper titled “Post-Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Effects on Outcome Measures and Life Care Costs” in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
* The paper reveals two crucial results, a) lifetime cost savings and, b) improved patient outcome.
When patients receive intensive rehabilitation, considerable lifetime savings are realized. Greater focus on independence, building life skills, and individualized therapy result in a durable and successful outcome. Research also suggests that denial of treatment often results in additional care needs and dependence on public programs. This can place financial burden on insurers, families, employers, and society.
The five rating scales are frequently used to assess functional status and the patient’s level of disability in a postacute rehabilitation setting. Each scale shows improvement and the percentage change in outcome measures after rehabilitation.
Cost effectiveness was determined by certified life care planners creating separate cost projections from blinded admission and discharge patient files. This facilitated cost comparison projections with and without rehabilitation for each patient.
* Post-Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Effects on Outcome Measures and Life Care Costs” was authored by CNS researchers Grace S. Griesbach, Ph.D.; Lisa A. Kreber, Ph.D.; David Harrington, MBA, OTR/L, CBIS and Mark J. Ashley, Sc.D., CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST. To view or purchase this article, please visit http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neu.2014.3754.
