Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a patient’s discharge destination could be predicted by information available upon the physical therapy initial evaluation using the Physical Assessment Key (PAK). There were 141 subjects (58 male, 83 female) included in this study and their ages ranged from 19 to 89 years (mean age=57.1 years). Each subject was given a PAK score on the day of the initial physical therapy evaluation and on the day of discharge from the hospital. The PAK evaluates a patient in the areas of transfer activities, self-care activities, locomotion and excretion management. A patient was discharged to one of four discharge destinations: home independent, home with physical therapy, skilled nursing facility, or rehabilitation. A significant difference was found in the initial PAK score means of those discharged to rehabilitation and those discharged to the other three discharge destinations. The initial PAK score was the most significant predictor of a patient’s discharge destination.

Key Words: Prediction, Discharge, Destination, Physical, Assessment

LLU Discipline

Physical Therapy

Department

Physical Therapy

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

W. William Hughes

Second Advisor

Lily Choi-Young

Third Advisor

Joseph Godges

Fourth Advisor

Grenith J. Zimmerman

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Year Degree Awarded

1998

Date (Title Page)

6-1998

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Patient Discharge; Physical Therapy.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

v; 16

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Share

COinS