Results: Patients admitted to IRF from the SCI trauma center (SCI TC) had significantly shorter
(P¼0.01) acute care LOS and total LOS compared with patients admitted from non-SCI TCs.
By neurological category, acute-care LOS was less for all groups admitted from the SCI center, but
statistically significant only for tetraplegia. There was no significant difference in the incidence of
readmissions to acute care from IRF. More patients from non-SCI centers (34%) than SCI centers (12%)
had pressure ulcers (Po0.001).
Conclusion: Acute care in organized SCI TCs before transfer to IRF can significantly lower acute-care
LOS or total LOS and incidence of pressure ulcers compared with non-SCI TCs. Patients admitted to IRF
from SCI TCs are no more likely to be sent back to an acute hospital than those from non-SCI TCs.