title: Understanding community-based rehabilitation and the role of physical and rehabilitation medicine.
abstract: Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is an accepted model to improve the delivery of rehabilitation in the community. It includes the access to health care, education, labor and accessible environments. The role of Specialists in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in this strategy (SPRM) is not very well defined. On the occasion of the international consultation for the WHO Action Plan for persons with disabilities, a discussion about the meaning of CBR and the role of SPRM on CBR has occurred among the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) members. The following major questions were identified; what is CBR? What is the role of Specialists in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SPMR) in CBR? A review of the literature and a discussion among experts was held to answer these questions. It is of major importance to distinguish between the two concepts of CBR: The first one is the policy or management strategy of CBR that was developed by WHO about 30 years ago. The second one is the provision of basic rehabilitation services offered at the community level. CBR strategy must also addresses the need for optimal access to specialized rehabilitation services and will have a key role in the design and building of so-called "Basic Rehabilitation Services." The authors proposed a scheme, which integrates all relevant aspects surrounding the concept of CBR; levels of care rehabilitation services and the roles proposed for SPRM. In addition, the convention for the rights of persons with disabilities and the conceptual framework of the ICF was taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, &quot;Rehabilitation in Health&quot; Research Group, University of Antioquia, Clínica las Américas, Medellín, Colombia - vaneseijas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Seijas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, &quot;Rehabilitation in Health&quot; Research Group, University of Antioquia, Clínica las Américas, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Luz H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.affiliation: &quot;Rehabilitation in Health&quot; Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.affiliation: &quot;Rehabilitation in Health&quot; Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Luz M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, &quot;Rehabilitation in Health&quot; Research Group, University of Antioquia, Clínica las Américas, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Boya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nugraha
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutenbrunner
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D006801:Humans; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; D012046:Rehabilitation