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Y. Hershkovits1,2, E. Zalyesov1,3, M. Pugatch2
1Fliman Rehabilitation Center, Haifa, Israel, 2Haifa University, Division of Health Systems Management, School of Public Health, Haifa, Israel, 3The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Background: Since February 2020 Israel faced the Corona virus. As part of ways to deal with the pandemic, the government enacted restrictions with an emphasis on isolation and social distancing which effect loneliness, depression and delirium and the physical and functional results of rehabilitation among geriatric patients. The effect of the Corona virus on the quality and efficiency of rehabilitation among geriatric patients who were not infected with the Corona virus has not yet been assessed.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the first year of the Corona pandemic on the quality and efficiency of rehabilitation compared to a similar period the year before, focusing on the FIM and FIMEG indices.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including the patients of Geriatric Rehabilitation Center was performed. the quality and efficiency of rehabilitation, will be measured in two ways by continuous variables, delta of the FIM index (admission to discharge), which evaluate the ability to perform motor and cognitive functions, and FIMEG index will be calculated. The patients were divided according to period of their admission: during the Corona Group I, the year before Group II. We compered the demographical, clinical and rehabilitation parameters between both groups.
Results: Overall, 1332 patients were included in the study. 597 in group 1 and 735 patients in group 2. The average age was 79.0±8.6. There were differences in the type of rehabilitation between the groups. Group I patients were with more gradual degeneration and less for neurological reasons. The average FIM of the patients at admission to rehabilitation was 57.7±15.9, the average FIM at discharge was 82.9±19.0, the average Delta FIM was 25.2±14.3 and the average FIMEG was 0.95±0.77. No clinically significant differences were found in the comparison between the two groups nor after distribution into subgroups according to the type of rehabilitation.
Conclusions: Despite the restriction in the first year of the corona pandemic and the systemic changes imposed on us during it, no clinically significant differences were found in the results of the neurological, orthopedic and gradual degeneration rehabilitation.
Implications: With the understanding that the effects of an emergency such as the Corona will force the health systems to divert many resources from routine care to deal with any emergency. Therefore, we must find alternative ways for a rehabilitative response which is critical in its essence. During the Corona period, an acceleration in Tele-health had started, and many works were indeed carried out that examined its effect and efficiency compared to a classic institutional rehabilitation process. In addition, one should consider providing a home rehabilitation solution for minor types of injuries and surgeries in such a way that the rehabilitation institutions can serve those who are in for nursing or medical services during the rehabilitation process or those who are in need for specific equipment that exists only in the rehabilitation institutions. Moreover, the health systems need to study, budget and prepare for emergencies and build contingency plans to deal with extreme situations such as the corona epidemic.
Funding acknowledgements: I recieved a scholarship from The Phisyoterapy Society
Keywords:
Corona
Rehabilitation
Corona
Rehabilitation
Topics:
COVID-19
Disability & rehabilitation
Older people
COVID-19
Disability & rehabilitation
Older people
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: 1. Fliman Hospital.
Committee: 1. Fliman Hospital Research Committee.
Ethics number: 1. 920210012
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
