One of them is priority inpatient medical rehabilitation, which can lead not only to faster recovery for patients but also to the opportunity to regain lost independence.
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Why this type of rehabilitation is considered particularly important is explained in a press release by Gediminas Toleikis, advisor to the Services Compensation Department of the State Patient Fund.
Prescribed after severe illnesses, injuries or operations
Priority inpatient medical rehabilitation is prescribed for patients after severe illnesses, injuries or operations. Its goal is to help a person restore functions impaired due to illness or injury, regain independence, improve quality of life, and return to normal life as quickly as possible.
Such rehabilitation is very necessary, for example, after a stroke or heart attack. After a stroke, it is especially important for restoring movement, speech, balance, and other impaired functions. After a heart attack, rehabilitation helps strengthen the cardiovascular system, safely restore physical activity, and reduce the risk of recurrent heart problems.
This rehabilitation is also prescribed after joint endoprosthesis operations, complex bone fractures, for example, pelvic bones, long bones, or fractures of several body areas. In such cases, the aim is to reduce pain, restore motor functions, strengthen muscles, and help the patient safely return to normal daily activities.
There are also other diagnoses where priority inpatient medical rehabilitation may be prescribed for children and adults.
Referral issued in hospital
A few days before the patient’s discharge from the hospital, medical rehabilitation options and the further organization of these services should be discussed with the patient or their relatives.
While the patient is still being treated in the hospital, a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) doctor consults them. After assessing the patient’s condition and the need for medical rehabilitation, they provide recommendations to the treating doctor. If rehabilitation is necessary, the treating doctor electronically issues a referral for priority inpatient medical rehabilitation.
Patient is helped to choose a suitable rehabilitation institution
The doctor must inform the patient which medical institutions provide the necessary medical rehabilitation services. The patient can choose a rehabilitation institution where they will receive the required services. In some cases, rehabilitation can be continued in the same medical institution where the patient received inpatient treatment.
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With the patient’s consent, the responsible hospital employee coordinates the patient’s arrival time with the administration of the rehabilitation service provider and arranges for the necessary assistance.
If there are no available places in the patient’s chosen institution during the recommended rehabilitation start period, the patient is registered with another rehabilitation institution where the necessary services can be provided in the near future.
The patient must arrive at the medical rehabilitation institution at the time specified by the PMR doctor. If, for important reasons, they cannot go to the said institution at that time, the patient must independently arrange a new arrival date, but no later than 2 months from the date the referral was issued.
What services can be provided?
After hospital treatment, the body’s recovery period begins. This is not always enough with just medication or rest – consistent lifestyle changes, patient motivation, and active participation in the rehabilitation process are also important.
In the rehabilitation institution, comprehensive assistance is provided to the patient: physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, massage, occupational therapy, and other procedures are applied, as well as psychological and social support, and diet therapy. If necessary, orthopedic and technical aids can be selected and adapted for the patient, and they are taught how to use them.
An important part of rehabilitation – educating the patient and their relatives
In the medical rehabilitation institution, specialists provide the patient and their relatives with knowledge on how to continue caring for their health after treatment, what lifestyle changes to apply in daily activities, for example, how to move safely, perform recommended exercises, and use prescribed aids. Relatives are also introduced to how to help the patient at home and support their recovery process. Such training helps the patient not only achieve better rehabilitation results but also gain self-confidence.
How many services are provided and how much is spent on them?
Last year, more than 30,000 patients covered by compulsory health insurance received priority inpatient medical rehabilitation services in healthcare institutions that have contracts with the patient fund. Over 62 million euros were required from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund to pay for these services. All priority inpatient rehabilitation services provided to patients were paid for with the Fund’s resources.
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