Daniel Li, BS
OMS4
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Mount Vernon, Washington, United States
Sarina Tran, BS
OMS4
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Mount Vernon, Washington, United States
Alexandra Winkel, CCC-SLP
Speech therapist
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima, Washington, United States
Ronald Walser, DPT
Associate professor and chair of anatomy
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima, Washington, United States
Dan Murphy, PhD
Statistician
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima, Washington, United States
Dan Selski, PhD
Associate professor
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima, Washington, United States
Patients, families, and clinicians would benefit from the ability to accurately predict length of stay for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) patients. The St. Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS) is a widely used, validated, screening tool used to evaluate patients for cognitive impairment and often administered to SNF patients on admission. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between SLUMS scores and the rate of improvement in various functional levels of SNF patients from their time from admission until discharge.
Design:
This was a retrospective study of 62 patients at a SNF in the state of Washington. Documented SLUMS scores, patient functional levels (the amount of assistance required for bed mobility, transfer ability, and gait) were collected. The number of days required to progress through functional levels were calculated and analyzed in comparison to patients’ SLUMS scores on admission.
Results:
Average time per transition through functional levels was approximately 10 to 11 days for all three measures (bed mobility, transfers, and gait). There were weak negative correlations between SLUMS scores and number of days from admission to discharge, and the average time per transition through functional levels; however, these correlations were not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant (p < .05) interaction between SLUMS scores and cumulative time per transition of functional milestones for “transfers” from admission through discharge.
Conclusions:
The number of days for patients to progress through functional levels ranged from patients who progressed through almost every level until discharge, to patients who went from admission to discharge without progress. It is possible that a study design with a larger sample size or homogenous measurements would find a larger effect of SLUMS score on the amount of time for patients to transition through functional milestones.
