Therapeutic Leave
A planned, temporary discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to assess home functioning and readiness for discharge.
Full Definition
A therapeutic leave is a structured, temporary discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation facility that allows patients to spend time at home or in their intended discharge environment while remaining enrolled in the rehabilitation program. This practice serves multiple purposes: assessing the patient's functional performance in their natural environment, identifying potential safety concerns or equipment needs, providing family members with caregiving experience, and building confidence for final discharge. Therapeutic leaves are typically planned for weekends or several days and require coordination between the interdisciplinary team, patient, and family. Patients return to the facility for evaluation and potential program modifications.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguished from regular leave in that it serves specific therapeutic and assessment purposes.
In Context
- "The interdisciplinary team approved a therapeutic leave to assess the patient's safety at home." — Team conference documentation
- "Following the successful therapeutic leave, the patient demonstrated readiness for discharge." — Progress note