Modelling the effect of demographic change and healthcare infrastructure on the patient structure in German hospitals - a longitudinal national study based on official hospital statistics.

Background: Effects of demographic change, such as declining birth rates and increasing individual life expectancy, require health system adjustments offering age- and needs-based care. In addition, healthcare factors can also influence health services demand.

Methods: The official German hospital statistics database with odd-numbered years between 1995 and 2011 was analysed.

Factors influencing weaning from mechanical ventilation in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.

Background: Studies analyzing risk factors of weaning failure in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) patients are rare.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors influencing the weaning of NNER patients.

Design: An observational, retrospective data analysis of a German multicenter study was performed.

Outcome of neurological early rehabilitation patients carrying multi-drug resistant bacteria: results from a German multi-center study.

Background: Colonization or infection with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is considered detrimental to the outcome of neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.

Methods: In a German multi-center study, 754 neurological early rehabilitation patients were enrolled and and reviewed in respect to MDR status, length of stay (LOS) and the following outcome variables: Barthel Index (BI), Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI), Glasgow Outcome Score Extended (GOSE), Coma Remission Scale (CRS), Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC).

Results: The mean age of the study population was 68.

Criterion validity and sensitivity to change of the Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI): results from a German multi-center study.

Background: Evaluation of functional status is difficult in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients. The Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI) was introduced in Germany over 20 years ago, but since then validation studies are lacking. The ERI (range -325 to 0 points) includes highly relevant items including the necessity of intermittent mechanical ventilation or tracheostomy.

[Course of rehabilitation in early neurological/neurosurgical rehabilitation. Results of a 2014 multi-center evaluation in Germany].

Background: In Germany, neurological-neurosurgical early rehabilitation is well established in the treatment of severe neurological diseases. To develop quality standards, knowledge of the current rehabilitation course is required.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the course of rehabilitation from patients in an early neurological/neurosurgical rehabilitation program in 16 centers from 10 German states.