Service evaluation of an acute Parkinson's therapy pathway between hospital and home

Background People with Parkinson's disease report that inpatient hospital environments do not replicate their home setup. A therapy pathway was developed integrating early home-based assessment, therapy sessions with photographs of key home areas, enhanced communication with community services, and staggered discharge. Methods Outcome measures (length of stay and readmissions within 14 days) in people with Parkinson's disease on the therapy pathway (n=5) were compared to those previously receiving standard care (n=5). Results Mean length of stay was 7.2 days shorter in the intervention group and their discharge Lindop Parkinson's mobility scale score was 39.4% higher. No difference was found in the Modified Barthel Index between the groups. Both groups had the same readmission rates. The pathway was accepted by both people with Parkinson's disease and clinicians. Conclusions The pathway reduced hospital length of stay and increased mobility in patients with Parkinson's disease. It was accepted by patients and clinicians and was feasible to integrate into current practice. The pathway warrants further evaluation.