Rehabilitation in Primary Care
Primary health care is changing across Canada. The impetus for the change is that people should receive the care that they need at the first point of access to the healthcare system. Rehabilitation has been identified as one type of service that should be offered in primary care to address the needs of adults who have, or are at risk of, poor health from chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and depression.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether persons with a chronic illness, receiving care in a primary care setting, show improved health as a result of rehabilitation compared with adults in the primary care setting who do not receive rehabilitation. A secondary objective is to identify if rehabilitation services can help to reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits. All participants receive a comprehensive assessment in their homes.
Three therapists (two physiotherapists and one occupational therapist) offer rehabilitation to 150 adults with chronic illness over an 18 month period. One hundred and fifty people are enrolled in a control group at one of our sister Family Health Centres. The rehabilitation includes a comprehensive assessment and intervention.
For more information visit the web site www.IAmAble.ca