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Background: Stroke survivors need therapy services to recover; however, coordination of therapy may not occur over time. An interdisciplinary stroke clinic (ISC) can improve communication and identify patients who have not reached their full recovery potential. We instituted an ISC with physical therapy (PT) to evaluate post-stroke or TIA survivors on the same day of the stroke clinic visit to determine if patients needed additional therapy. Methods: Patients with diagnosis of stroke or TIA seen in the ISC from 05/17 - 05/18 were included. Based on recommendations from the American Physical Therapy Association and AHA/ASA, the PT evaluation included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Ten Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Short Form Stroke Impact Scale (SF-SIS) and assessment of the patient’s knowledge of stroke risk factors and prevention. The physical therapist determined if the patient met criteria for additional therapy. Results: Among 161 patients in the study, 84% were ischemic stroke, 12% hemorrhagic stroke, and 4% TIA. The mean age was 63±14 years and there were 56% women and 75% Whites. At the time of therapy evaluation, 38% of patients were in the acute phase of recovery (0-6 months) and 62% in chronic phase (>6 months) of recovery from stroke or TIA. BBS was performed in 86%, median score 50 (41-54); 6MWT in 81%, median percent impaired 27(11-46), comfortable 10MWT in 86%, median 0.93 (0.72-1.11)m/s; fast 10MWT in 83%, median 1.31 (0.96-1.60)m/s; SF-SIS in 86%, median 33 (28-38), and SF-SIS stroke recovery rating in 81%, median 80% (50-90). Follow-up services were recommended for 62% of patients - PT (53%), occupational therapy (20%), and speech therapy (9%). Follow-up therapy recommendations were not associated with type of stroke (p=0.80, 68% hemorrhagic stroke, 61% ischemic stroke, and 67% TIA) or when stroke/TIA occurred in the past [p=0.24, 68% among patients in acute phase and 59% among patients in chronic phase of recovery]. Conclusion: In our pilot study, there was a need for follow-up services in 62% of patients due to functional limitations as determined by PT evaluation. It included patients in acute and chronic phase of recovery. Frequent therapy assessments may be needed for stroke survivors to help reach their best recovery potential.

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