Effect of a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor in a neurology department on the length of hospital stay for patients recovering from stroke

Background/Aims Although in Israel a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor is not an integral part of neurology department team, their attendance can have a positive effect on the management of patients recovering from stroke and their optimal transfer to rehabilitation setting. The aim of this study was to investigate if the presence of a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor in a neurology department can influence the length of stay for patients recovering from stroke. Methods A retrospective comparative electronic data analysis of periods with and without a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor was undertaken in an inpatient neurology department of an urban, periphery, academic medical centre. Results A total of 118 patients with stroke were included in the study; 32 were treated 3 months before the physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor worked on the ward, 43 during, and 43 after the physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor left the department. Statistical comparative analysis showed that length of stay was significantly reduced when there is a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor present among the neurology ward physicians (18.06 days before intervention, 12.39 days during and 14.12 days after). Conclusions Having a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor in the neurology department can shorten the length of stay in patients with stroke. Were larger studies to confirm these findings, the authors would recommend incorporating a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor in neurology departments.