Assessment for rehabilitation
A formal assessment for rehabilitation is important for all people with stroke. People with mild stroke may have impairments that are overlooked, and those with severe stroke often have their rehabilitation needs inconsistently documented, and are not routinely referred to rehabilitation service providers.
The Assessment for Rehabilitation: Pathway and Decision-Making Tool was developed in 2011 by the Australian Stroke Coalition Rehabilitation Working Group to provide clear processes to ensure all survivors of stroke in Australia are assessed for rehabilitation, in a manner which is timely, fair, consistent, and based on the best available evidence. It used input from the South Australian Stroke Network Rehabilitation Working Group, and from people with stroke and healthcare professionals.
Use of this tool is one of the essential principles of the National Rehabilitation Stroke Services Framework and has been shown to assist healthcare professionals working in Australian acute stroke units to identify rehabilitation needs of people with stroke that are frequently overlooked, such as continence and mood.
For current research and evidence-based recommendations see our Clinical Guidelines.
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