Abstract: Objective To investigate the significance to separate acute and chronic wards in a rehabilitation medicine department of generalhospital. Methods The patients discharged from acute wards from August 2012 to April 2013, when acute and chronic wards has beenseparated, were as group A (n=289), those from chronic wards were as group B (n=108). The patients discharged a year before the separation were as the control (group C, n=402). Their activities of daily living (ADL) when discharged, satisfaction and the time in the acute wards were observed. Results There was no significant difference in ADL between group A and group C (P>0.05), but it was between group B and group C (P<0.05). The patients more satisfied after separation (P<0.05), while the time in the acute wards decreased. Conclusion Separating the acute and chronic wards may improve the use of the medical resources and serve more patients. However, it improve the quality of care and satisfaction of the patients.

Key words: rehabilitation medicine, acute wards, chronic wards, managemen