Rapid Changes in the Provision of Rehabilitation Care in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Ann Reddy, Linda Resnik, Janet Freburger and 4 others
PMID 34534491WHAT IT FOUND
Post-acute and long-term care providers reported therapy moved to bedside and telehealth, personal protective equipment made sessions slower, and quarantine isolated residents.
They described worsened motivation and function, plus cost and access worries.
Key findings
01Respondents reported that quarantine and social distancing shifted therapy from group sessions and gyms to bedside and telehealth.
02Respondents reported that quarantine and visitation restrictions left residents isolated and negatively affected motivation and physical function.
03Respondents reported that PPE, cleaning, one-on-one therapy, and telehealth increased staff time and costs, while Medicare waivers were described as helping telehealth access.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sample of 30 providers recruited through professional groups, so it may not represent all post-acute and long-term care settings. No response rate could be calculated because the survey was sent through channels that did not track how many people received it. Respondents self-reported their profession and care setting. The study reports provider perceptions, not measured patient outcomes or tested interventions. Follow-up questions were not possible, so some responses may be unclear. Only three respondents were nurses, and the paper does not study nursing care.
Declared interests
No conflict-of-interest declaration appears in the supplied text. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as evidence that bedside therapy, telehealth, or quarantine restrictions changed patient outcomes. They are perceptions from a convenience sample of providers, and the study did not measure patient results or test interventions.