title: Allocating health care resources. The vexing case of rehabilitation.
abstract: The allocation of resources to rehabilitation is beset with many difficulties. Among them are the general crisis in the American health care system and the problem of how to make a case for the role of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation must be prepared to show how and why it is a good medical and social investment in relation to other needs. Rehabilitation has played a secondary role in the American health care system because of overemphasis on curative and life-extending medicine. Rehabilitation must work to show that money invested in caring is as well spent as money aiming at the extension of life. It must also establish a fresh new vision of health care in general as well as illustrate where rehabilitation stands in a more integrated and coherent health care system. Improved quality of life, which rehabilitation can provide, is as important as saving and extending life.
authors: Hastings Center, New York, NY 10510.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Callahan
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006262:Health; D006292:Health Priorities; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000191:economics*; D040841:Resource Allocation; D014481:United States