A conceptual proposal for the study of the quality of rehabilitation care.

Abstract

To propose a framework for the assessment and ongoing, continuous improvement of the quality of rehabilitation care. The generally clarified and accepted approaches to the study of the quality of care are examined in view of the inherent characteristics of medical rehabilitation and the differences between it and other fields of medical practice. The process and outcome of care are distinct but complementary and their elements should, in rehabilitation, be used jointly and simultaneously as indicators of quality. Rehabilitation is of long duration and consists of various phases, each of them focusing on a different issue. It is proposed to monitor activities of rehabilitation professionals (process elements) that constitute the focus of care of a given phase and simultaneously to monitor relevant outcome elements attributable to the activities of the given phase. Comparison of monitored elements (the observed care) to their standards (the expected care) would enable assessment of the quality and its continuous improvement.