An imperative to improve discharge planning: predictors of physical function among residents of a medicare skilled nursing facility.

Given the pressure to effects of shorter length of stay among older adults, it is important to understand factors that predict trajectories of physical function in a posthospital recovery period. Data were collected from the medical records of 131 older adults following lower extremity surgery to identify admission factors that predict physical function at discharge, length of stay, and discharge disposition in a Medicare skilled nursing facility. Knowing on admission those who are most at risk for poor physical function at discharge can arm nurse administrators with critical information for better discharge planning for continuing services.