Promoting Inclusive Continuation of Therapy Services for Stroke Patients Post Discharge: A Doctoral Capstone Project

Abstract

Patients that have experienced a stroke can experience a variety of deficits that impact functional independence, therefore promotion of continuation of services is essential. Barriers to continuation of services may be encountered when discharging some patients, an occurrence not unfamiliar to those healthcare providers working at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). FQHCs have the ability to provide health care services to the underserved population by receiving funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2018). At a local Marion County FQHC, several gaps preventing continuation of services for rehab in-house patients were identified. This specific population labeled as the rehab in-house population consists of patients with multiple diagnoses, including stroke, that require additional therapy services however do not have funding to discharge from the hospital to another rehab facility. Therefore, rehab in-house patients receive rehab services at the hospital until patients are able to discharge home. The capstone site’s therapy staff identified several gaps including lack in education and resources that hinder rehab in-house patients from continuing with therapy services after discharge. This capstone project involved direct collaboration with the identified stakeholders to create successful materials to aid in the mission of helping rehab in-house patients continue therapy services after discharge. After dissemination of the new capstone project materials, there was an increase in knowledge from an inpatient therapist standpoint on essential areas in order to be an advocate and influence patients to continue therapy services after discharge.