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Post-acute Care Needs and Benefits of Inpatient Rehabilitation Care for the Oncology Patient

  • CANCER REHABILITATION (M CLARK, SECTION EDITOR)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This study aims to assess recent literature published on the post-acute care needs of cancer patients, specifically focusing on the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting.

Recent Findings

The neurologic cancer population appears to be the most studied oncologic population in acute inpatient rehabilitation studies within the past 5 years. This finding is consistent with prior findings from the past several decades. Recent trends in inpatient cancer rehabilitation note a population with lower admission functional status and shorter lengths of stay compared to prior studies. Despite these findings, the percentage discharged to the community remains high.

Summary

With new treatments yielding improved survival, cancer patients may live longer and risk accumulating more functional impairments. Physicians involved in their care must understand post-acute care needs and work in a multidisciplinary group to best determine post-acute disposition. This decision remains very individualized and should consider both oncologic and functional needs.

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Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this article are available within the article.

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Funding

This work was supported in part by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Center Support (Grant P30 CA008748/CA/NCI, National Institutes of Health/Health and Human Services, USA).

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Correspondence to Julia M. Reilly.

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Reilly, J.M., Ruppert, L.M. Post-acute Care Needs and Benefits of Inpatient Rehabilitation Care for the Oncology Patient. Curr Oncol Rep 25, 155–162 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-023-01366-9

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