ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE REGIS SCALE™ ON OPTIMIZING THERAPY FREQUENCY IN HOME-BASED NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: Determining the appropriate frequency of home-based physical therapy for patients with neurological disorders remains a major clinical and operational challenge. Decisions are frequently based on individual clinical judgment, which may result in variability in treatment intensity and inefficient allocation of healthcare resources. The Régis Scale™ was developed as a standardized clinical decision-support tool to optimize therapy frequency according to patients' rehabilitation needs. Objective: To evaluate the economic impact of implementing the Régis Scale™ on resource allocation in home-based neurological rehabilitation and to estimate the potential cost savings associated with optimizing therapy frequency. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using operational data from a home healthcare provider in Recife, Brazil. The study included 209 patients with neurological disorders receiving home-based physical therapy between May 5 and June 5, 2026. Therapy frequency before and after implementation of the Régis Scale™ was compared. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze clinical and economic outcomes, including the number of avoided visits, estimated cost savings, and operational capacity. Results: Implementation of the Régis Scale™ reduced the average therapy frequency from four to two sessions per week, representing a 50% reduction. This optimization resulted in an estimated reduction of 418 home-based physical therapy visits per week. Based on an average reimbursement of BRL 68.00 per visit, the projected cost savings were BRL 28,424.00 per week, BRL 123,075.92 per month, and BRL 1,476,911.04 annually. Treating physical therapists reported maintenance or improvement of patients' clinical status following the adjustment of therapy frequency. Additionally, approximately 24.6 home visits per physical therapist per week became available for reassignment, increasing the operational capacity of the rehabilitation team. Conclusions: The Régis Scale™ demonstrated substantial potential to optimize therapy frequency in home-based neurological rehabilitation, improving operational efficiency while reducing healthcare costs without perceived deterioration in patient outcomes. These findings suggest that the instrument may represent an effective clinical decision-support tool for promoting Value-Based Healthcare and improving the sustainability of home-based rehabilitation programs.