Study finds gaps in home rehab after joint replacement
Every year, hundreds of thousands of older Americans recover from hip and knee replacement surgery at home. For many, that recovery depends on timely access to physical or occupational therapy after leaving the hospital.
A new study reveals significant gaps in home rehabilitation services for older adults recovering from hip and knee replacement surgery. Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, home health care should commence within 48 hours of hospital discharge, yet researchers found that 17% of Medicare beneficiaries—nearly one in six—experienced delays in starting physical or occupational therapy within two days of leaving the hospital.
These delays were linked to poorer mobility recovery and were most pronounced among rural Medicare beneficiaries and those dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, highlights the critical role home health rehabilitation plays in aiding recovery, with delays not only impacting access but also hindering meaningful mobility improvement during home health care.
Rural patients, already facing challenges such as long travel distances, workforce shortages, and limited home health agencies, faced even greater obstacles, demonstrating lower odds of receiving timely home health rehabilitation and experiencing less mobility improvement. The researchers emphasize the need for targeted quality improvement efforts, enhanced care coordination, and policies that ensure timely access to home health rehabilitation, particularly for vulnerable populations in rural and low-income communities.
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