Short stay hospital treatment and rapid rehabilitation of cases of myocardial infarction in a district hospital.

Two hundred consecutive male cases of myocardial infarction have been treated along lines designed to provide a minimal time spent in bed, and in hospital, with early return to work. The method of treatment and the results are described. Rapid rehabilitation enabled 40 per cent to be discharged within a fortnight and 87 per cent within a month. Twenty-three per cent returned to work within 4 weeks of the onset of their illness, 56 per cent within 6 weeks, and 77 per cent within 8 weeks. There were no ill effects either in hospital or during a 6-month follow-up after discharge. Rapid rehabilitation is both possible and desirable. The active participation of a medical social worker in all cases is essential.