Rehabilitation medicine in countries of Central/Eastern Europe.
OBJECTIVE
To describe attributes of rehabilitation medicine common to the five countries of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) and their implications for future challenges.


METHODS
Critical collection and study of pertinent data on evolvement and present state of rehabilitation medicine in CEE countries by a coordinated team of rehabilitation experts from each of the relevant countries.


RESULTS
CEE countries are similar in their need for rehabilitation medicine, its evolvement, present state and current practice. Settings largely emerged without strategic planning on the national level and lagged behind those in Central and Western Europe both in time and content.


CONCLUSIONS
The framework that evolved in all except Slovenia is not appropriate to needs. In order to meet future challenges all five CEE countries need the incorporation of inpatient, outpatient and community-based rehabilitation into one system.
Eldar
Reuben
R
Loewenstein Hospital-Rehabilitation Centre, Raanana, Israel. eldrub@netvision.net.il
Kullmann
Lajos
L
Marincek
Crt
C
Sekelj-Kauzlarić
Katarina
K
Svestkova
Olga
O
Palat
Miroslav
M
D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation