Functional improvement of the Australian health care system - Can rehabilitation assist?.

Abstract

* Strategies for managing increasing health system demand have focused on the acute sector and chronic disease management in the community, with little attention on the role of rehabilitation. * There were over 53000 inpatient rehabilitation episodes in Australia in 2006. We argue that rehabilitation can improve patient flow and outcomes in acute care if engaged early. * The effectiveness of rehabilitation can be enhanced by increasing the intensity of therapy and developing models of rehabilitation that provide alternatives to inpatient care. * Factors that reduce the efficiency of rehabilitation services include the location of many services in small, stand-alone hospitals without acute support; the lack of options for managing younger people with acquired disability in the community; and deficiencies in government programs for the supply of aids, equipment and home modifications. * Improving the organisation of rehabilitation services should improve access to acute and rehabilitation inpatient beds, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.