Table 1 Discharge reasons, operational definitions and construct assignment

Patient does not require skilled therapy

• 383 identified via Delphi

1. Transition to home exercise program (HEP), exercise physiologist or private pay services

2. Met/Achieved goal(s)

3. Demonstrating independence with HEP

4. Max potential with skilled services

5. Functional plateau

6. Achieved prior level of function

7. The patient was referred for a wheelchair assessment only and does not require skilled services until the wheelchair is received

Positive

Patient declined services

• 621 identified via Delphi

1. Death in family

2. Refusal

3. Patient choice

4. Insurance coverage

5. Financial constraints

6. Self discharge (DC) because they felt they met goals

7. Self DC

Poor, but potentially outside the scope of physical therapy

Patient hospitalized

• 64 identified via Delphi

Poor, but potentially outside the scope of physical therapy

Patient transitioned to home health or hospice services

• 313 identified via Delphi

1. Needs “nursing”, but not admitted to SNF

2. “Med A”

Poor, but potentially outside the scope of physical therapy

Other

1. Transition to other discipline with no explanation of why current plan of care (POC) ended

2. Decline in function and/or cognition

3. “See assessment”

4. Coverage issue

5. Admitted to senior living community (SLC)

6. Facility changing provider

7. Physician DC

8. Medical hold

9. Returned home

10. Change in medical status

Categorized based on Delphi results