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Review
. 2020 Aug;99(8):663-668.
doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001477.

Rehabilitation Response in Pandemics

Bhasker Amatya  1 , Fary Khan
Affiliations
Review

Rehabilitation Response in Pandemics

Bhasker Amatya et al. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

The World Health Organization declared a pandemic due to the serious health risk posed by coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The number of infected cases is on the rise globally with escalating human, economic, and societal costs. Survivors of COVID-19 may experience a range of clinical, functional, and psychological impairments, resulting in disabilities. Many are amenable to rehabilitation intervention. The current focus of COVID-19 management is on public health measures and acute management. As patients transfer to subacute care or discharged to the community, rehabilitation services need to have a number of organizational and operational models in place to provide safe and effective care for patients and health professionals.There is need for global action by professional organizations in developing a structured rehabilitation approach for international response to disasters, including pandemics. This report proposes development of a "Rehabilitation Response Plan" to enable the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, to provide crucial leadership and governance role in liaison and coordination with the World Health Organization (and other stakeholders), to provide rehabilitation input during current and future pandemics. The key considerations include following categories: governance, coordination, communication, evaluation, and care continuum. These will strengthen rehabilitation, assist in the effective delivery of services, and provide advocacy and an international coordinated perspective.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Systemic collaboration and coordination pathway of the ISPRM and DRC to facilitate rehabilitation relief response in pandemics AAP: Association of Academic Physiatrists, AAPMR: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, AMLAR: Latin American Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, AOSPRM: Asia Oceania Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, AOFNR: Asia Oceania Federation of NeuroRehabilitation, CBR: Community based rehabilitationCOVID-19: Corona virus disease 2019, DRC: Disaster, Rehabilitation Committee, EFNR: European Federation of NeuroRehabilitation Societies, EMT: Emergency Medical Team, ESPMR: European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, INGO: International non-governmental organisation, ISCoS: International Spinal Cord Society, ISPRM: International Society of Physical And Rehabilitation Medicine, NGO: Non-governmental organisation, PAHO: Pan American Health Organization, WCPT: World Confederation of Physical Therapy, WFOT: World Federation of Occupational Therapists, WFNR: World Federation Of NeuroRehabilitation, UN: United Nation; UNDRR: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction WHO: World Health Organisation, WHO-ISPRM LC: WHO ISPRM Liaison Committee
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References

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    1. World health Organisation World Health Organisation, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Situation Report 106. Geneva: WHO, 5 May 2020.
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    1. United Nation Conference on Trade and Developement (UNCTD) The coronavirus shock: a story of another global crisis foretold and waht policy makers should be doing about it. UNCTD; 9 March2020.

MeSH terms