title: The system for medical rehabilitation in Croatia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Devices, Medical Centre, Zagreb University, Croatia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jelić
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekelj-Kauzlarić
authors.forename: Tonko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vlak
authors.forename: Zcarko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bakran
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dzidić
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eldar
mesh_terms: 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