Integrated institution - community rehabilitation in developed countries: a proposal

Abstract

The integration of the rehabilitation institution of a region with secondary and primary care of the region, into one functional entity for the purposes of providing the needed services, would enable finding the most appropriate setting, and facilitate addressing all needs, as well as increase the availability and accessibility of comprehensive rehabilitation at an affordable cost. This could be a viable way of providing rehabilitation in developed countries of Europe, where the need for it is expected to rise in excess of the population increase.

Chronic disease management in primary health care: The role of rehabilitation professions

“…Family Health Teams and Community Health Centres) is associated with a range of benefits: 8 decreased waiting time, reduced specialist referrals, lower costs for services, greater continuity of care, improved patient outcomes in measures of quality of life, exercise tolerance, treatment compliance, self-management and/or improved health status. [1][2][3][4][7][8][9][10] Rehabilitation is integral to the provision of primary health care delivery that offers comprehensive, accessible, and patient-centred interventions and support for chronic disease. 10 Rehabilitation professionals are experts in both the prevention and management of chronic disease, and are ideally positioned to enhance the capacity and infrastructure of the primary care system through the delivery of cost-efficient and effective chronic disease management.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][7][8][9][10] Rehabilitation is integral to the provision of primary health care delivery that offers comprehensive, accessible, and patient-centred interventions and support for chronic disease. 10 Rehabilitation professionals are experts in both the prevention and management of chronic disease, and are ideally positioned to enhance the capacity and infrastructure of the primary care system through the delivery of cost-efficient and effective chronic disease management. Movement toward widespread inclusion of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in primary care across Canada will address increasing prevalence of chronic disease and provide these patients with equitable access to the standard of care outlined in the Canada Health Act.…”

Home based intervention disability program

“…Advocates of CBR identify several advantages over alternatives: First, CBR is comprehensive. Experts consider that all rehabilitation needs can be addressed through CBR interventions (Department for International Development 2000; Eldar 2000;Helander 1980). Second, other authors have argued that CBR is more cost-effective than hospital or rehabilitation center-based interventions (Mitchell 1999).…”

Models of Integrating Physical Therapists into Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Several factors, including an ageing population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and a shift in the locus of health care delivery from the hospital to the community, are placing increased demands on Canada's primary-care systems. [1][2][3] Primary care is the first level of contact in the health system, 4 and it plays an important role in the ongoing management of persons with musculoskeletal disorders, which are the second most common reason for visits to primary-care physicians. 5 Family physicians and, more recently, nurse practitioners play a major role in the coordination and provision of primarycare services in the province of Ontario.…”