RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: We implemented a risk assessment tool (RAT) used by clinical navigators to quantify pre-operative mobility, home safety, social/cognitive barriers, and patient health history. We sought to determine if this RAT is associated with the need for post-acute care (PAC) services defined as inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility, home health, and none (home) following total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: The study sample comprised of a total of 1438 primary TJA patients included in a bundled payment model. The RAT score, which ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing healthier, more independent patents, was the key independent variable and post-acute service was the primary outcome variable. RESULTS: The median RAT score was 83 (interquartile range 78-87.5) for no PAC discharges compared to 74 (interquartile range 67-81) for inpatient PAC discharges (P < .0001). After adjusting for the effects of length of hospital stay, surgery type, and patient gender, there was 6× increased odds of inpatient PAC for higher risk patients compared to low risk patients. A RAT score of 74 predicts discharges without PAC 87% of the time. CONCLUSION: The RAT that is based on psychosocial, cognitive, environmental factors, and health status was significantly associated with the need for PAC services. The next step is to build and validate a real time, risk adjustment model to assist physicians and patients with planning post-discharge resources.