Article

There is a need for a comprehensive classification system of health-related
rehabilitation services. For conceptual clarity our aim is to provide a
health-related conceptual description of the term "rehabilitation service".
First, we introduce a common understanding of the term "rehabilitation", based on
the current definition in the World Health Organization's World Report on
Disability, and a conceptual description of rehabilitation agreed upon by
international Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine organizations. From a health
perspective, rehabilitation can be regarded as a general health strategy with the
aim of enabling persons with health conditions experiencing or likely to
experience disability to achieve and maintain optimal functioning. Secondly, we
distinguish different meanings of the term "service", that have originated in
management literature. It is important to distinguish between micro, meso and
macro level uses of the term "service". On a meso level, which is central for the
classification of rehabilitation services, 2 aspects of a service, i.e. an offer
of an intangible product and an organizational setting in which the offer is
upheld, are both essential. The results of this conceptual analysis are used to
develop a conceptual description of health-related rehabilitation, which is set
out at the end of this paper. This conceptual description may provide the basis
of a classification of health-related rehabilitation services, and is open for
comments and discussion.

Langue : ANGLAIS