2025-10-21 Association of Physical Function with Hospital Readmissions Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Jim Smith, PT, DPT, is a Professor of Physical Therapy at Utica College. He is the Past-President of APTA Acute Care and has served in leadership roles in the APTA. His scholarship has focused on physical rehabilitation for those with acute and medically complex problems. His dissemination has included 55 publications (22 peer-reviewed) and more than 100 presentations at rehabilitation and scientific conferences and workshops. He has been the recipient of APTA Acute Care's James Dunleavy Distinguished Service and Lecture Awards.

Jason R. Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His research focuses on improving outcomes for older adults after geriatric trauma and acute health events, with a particular emphasis on rehabilitation, care transitions, and strategies to ameliorate the social impacts of disability. Dr. Falvey has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and leads NIH-funded studies that integrate health services research, rehabilitation science, and population health approaches to promote function, independence, and equity in aging.

Erin Thomas, PT, DPT, Clinical Associate Professor, co-assistant Director of Clinical Education within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), division of Physical Therapy, at The Ohio State University. She is a founding member of the Eclipse Group (Education for Clinical Interprofessional Simulation Excellence) and serves as the Interprofessional Program Liaison for the physical therapy division. She serves on the university wide BUCKIPE calendar workgroup as co-head representative for all programs within SHRS. She serves on the SHRS Interprofessional Education Committee that is responsible for development and strategic planning for interprofessional activities within SHRS. Dr. Thomas is primary author of an article related to an interprofessional simulation for occupational and physical therapy students. She has presented nationally and internationally on interprofessional education and simulation. She has served on the ACAPT board of the Simulation in Physical Education Consortium that is developed an interprofessional simulation training certification course targeted for rehab professionals as well as currently serving as the secretary for the APTA Acute Care Academy.