A rehabilitation clinic is a place where people are given medication and therapy to help them get back on their feet after being injured. Some of these centers specialize in different types of addictions and are often funded by governments and private associations. The main goal of these centers is to give the patients the ability to live their lives without drugs or alcohol again and be productive members of society once they have completed their treatment program.
A person can get rehabilitation services in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics and the community. The aim of all rehabilitation services is to minimize the disabling effects of diseases, illnesses or injuries. This is achieved through a wide range of interventions that may include educating and equipping individuals with self-management strategies, providing assistive products and modifying tasks or environments. It is also important to provide social support and counseling for individuals.
People with disabilities or chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and cancer, often need rehabilitation services. Children with developmental conditions such as cerebral palsy also frequently use rehabilitation services, as do older people who experience falls or have a stroke. It is estimated that about 2.4 billion people worldwide need rehabilitation services. This figure is expected to rise significantly, due to population ageing and increased incidence of injury, chronic diseases and child developmental conditions.
Currently, many rehabilitation services are delivered in hospital settings, but there is increasing recognition of the need for rehabilitation in the community. It is important to deliver services in the community because they optimize functioning and reduce disability for individuals with health conditions or impairments in their daily activities and interactions with their environment. These services can be provided by professionals in different disciplines, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses.
Outpatient rehabilitation services are a part of the continuum of healthcare and can be offered in a range of settings, from hospitals to private physiotherapy practices and homes. These services can be a combination of different types of rehabilitation therapy, including physical, speech and cognitive therapies. In addition, social skills training for persons with schizophrenia or autism spectrum disorders are included as part of rehabilitation services.
Many people need rehabilitation because of an injury or illness, such as a spinal cord injury, brain or heart surgery. They can also benefit from rehabilitation if they have had an amputation, severe burns or surgery for a disease such as diabetes or cancer.
Rehabilitation services are highly individualized, and the care that a person receives depends on their needs, goals and preferences. Individuals who need rehabilitation often start their treatment in a hospital, where they will receive treatment from specialist nurses and doctors. This can include a physiatrist, who is an expert in rehabilitation medicine. Once discharged from the hospital, they can move to outpatient rehabilitation, where they will be treated by physiotherapists and occupational therapists, as well as by other healthcare professionals.