Understanding how social factors affect recovery after hospital care in different communities.
Official title: Evaluation of Post-Acute Care Access and Outcomes: Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Urban and Rural Rehabilitation Service Areas Before and After COVID-19
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11043355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how things like income and education affect whether people can get the care they need after recovering from health issues like strokes or surgeries, and it aims to find ways to improve rehab services for everyone, especially in different areas after the pandemic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $393,334 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS029891-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043355 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients who have recently been discharged from hospitals after experiencing a stroke, hip fracture, or joint replacement.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not recovering from the specified conditions or who do not require post-acute care services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social determinants of health, such as economic and educational factors, impact access to post-acute care services for patients recovering from conditions like stroke, hip fractures, and joint replacements. By analyzing data from Medicare claims and social determinants datasets, the study aims to identify disparities in care access and outcomes between urban and rural areas, especially before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved rehabilitation services tailored to their community's needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced access to rehabilitation services and better health outcomes for patients recovering from major surgeries or health events.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted the importance of social determinants in healthcare access, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights, although the specific focus on post-acute care in the context of COVID-19 is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reistetter, Timothy — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Reistetter, Timothy
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.