Successful Community Discharge Following Postacute Rehabilitation for Medicare Beneficiaries: Analysis of a Patient-Centered Quality Measure.

Objective: To determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as health services use associated with successful community discharge.

Data Source: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument and Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files.

Study Design: We retrospectively examined 167,664 Medicare beneficiaries discharged from inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) in 2013 to determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as health services use associated with successful community discharge.

Principal Findings: In the multivariable model, sociodemographic (younger age, no disability, social support), clinical (higher motor and cognitive functional status at admission), and health services use (fewer acute care days and longer IRF days) variables were associated with successful community discharge.

Conclusions: Remaining in the community is an important patient-centered outcome that could complement other postacute rehabilitation quality measures.