The system for medical rehabilitation in Croatia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the framework for medical rehabilitation in Croatia and to discuss its influence on the practice of the specialty.


METHODS
Collection, analysis and interpretation of data pertaining to the need for medical rehabilitation in the country and to its elements of structure, process and outcome of care.


RESULTS
The practice of medical rehabilitation in Croatia has evolved without strategic planning on the national level and therefore without a designed system. This lack in the present framework causes shortcomings in all three elements of rehabilitation care and impedes the advancement of the specialty.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical rehabilitation in Croatia needs a national strategic plan for a three-level system that incorporates inpatient, outpatient and community-based rehabilitation.
Jelić
Miroslav
M
Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Devices, Medical Centre, Zagreb University, Croatia.
Sekelj-Kauzlarić
Katarina
K
Vlak
Tonko
T
Bakran
Zcarko
Z
Dzidić
Ivan
I
Eldar
Reuben
R
D017523:Croatia; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013038:Specialization