OBJECTIVE: This study examined characteristics of patients with acquired brain injury associated with wait times for inpatient rehabilitation compared with a control population of patients with acquired spinal cord injury. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on 9458 patients captured in the National Rehabilitation Reporting System in Canada. RESULTS: Waiting for inpatient rehabilitation was found to be associated with language, geographical location, informal support, pre-admission living arrangement and payer source. The median differences in wait time, however, were at most a few days. Persons already receiving care had the longest median wait times. CONCLUSION: The data reflect only the perspective of providers, and further research needs to examine days to inpatient admission using data from acute care.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined characteristics of patients with acquired brain injury associated with wait times for inpatient rehabilitation compared with a control population of patients with acquired spinal cord injury. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on 9458 patients captured in the National Rehabilitation Reporting System in Canada. RESULTS: Waiting for inpatient rehabilitation was found to be associated with language, geographical location, informal support, pre-admission living arrangement and payer source. The median differences in wait time, however, were at most a few days. Persons already receiving care had the longest median wait times. CONCLUSION: The data reflect only the perspective of providers, and further research needs to examine days to inpatient admission using data from acute care.