Advancing SCI health care to avert rehospitalization

This commentary addresses the high rate of rehospitalization among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), particularly within the first year after injury. It emphasizes the need for improved strategies to prevent common conditions leading to rehospitalization, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and pressure ulcers. The authors advocate for a reevaluation and reinvention of care processes across acute, rehabilitation, and post-discharge phases, urging SCI centers to leverage data and share best practices to enhance outcomes and reduce costs.

• 1
  Rehospitalization rates are unacceptably high among individuals with SCI, with significant variation among different centers.
• 2
  The primary drivers of rehospitalization are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and pressure ulcers.
• 3
  Current approaches to managing these conditions are more reactive than preventive, highlighting a need for proactive strategies.