The study demonstrated a significant relationship between daily therapeutic duration and functional gain during IRH stay and showed treatment time thresholds for optimal functional outcomes for patients in inpatient rehabilitation who had a stroke.

Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that earlier transfer to an IRH may lead to better functional improvement after stroke. However, certain factors such as age, race/ethnicity, initial medical conditions and functional status, and length of stay at an IRH contributed to functional gain. Factors affecting the time to IRH admission also were addressed.

The purpose of this study is to explore the needs of family members at the bedside of stroke patients (n = 12) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Family members' needs were determined through semistructured interviews, "Draw a Bridge" art therapy technique, and the Family Inventory of Needs. Family members described a family-centered approach to care that addressed the following needs: assistance with preparing for discharge, staff caring for family members, communication about the plan of care and what to expect postdischarge, and trusting the care provided by IRF staff. Art therapy revealed that stroke was a crisis with many unmet needs for the interviewer to explore. Descriptive statistical analysis of the Family Inventory of Needs revealed that both met and unmet needs were consistent with the interviews and the interpretations of the drawings. These findings inform the need for interventions during IRF to enhance communication, support, and effective caregiver education amidst the crisis of stroke.

The current process of care transitions for individuals with disabling conditions is both ineffective and inefficient. There is a need for clinicians with the necessary knowledge and skills to advocate and facilitate transitions that result in the greatest value to the patients, their families, and the healthcare delivery system. A review of the literature reveals significant problems with transitions to postacute care (PAC) settings. Care is fragmented, disorganized, and guided by factors unrelated to the quality of care or patient outcomes. Studies have demonstrated that the selection of a PAC setting for patients is influenced by multiple factors (Sandel et al

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