[Regionalization of rehabilitation services. Survey of users of a Quebec center].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the situation of and difficulties encountered by users of a supraregional rehabilitation institute when they are transferred from the institute to facilities in their own regions, and to discover how they address these difficulties. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study. SETTING: Regions in Quebec served by a physical rehabilitation institute (Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec). PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine people who used services at the institute and then sought rehabilitation in their own regions. METHOD: Telephone survey using a validated questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions. MAIN FINDINGS: About 69% of users had difficulty obtaining adequate follow up in their regions; the regions lacked professionals with expertise; more efficient methods of communication are required; and physicians' role in providing continuity of care needs to be recognized. CONCLUSION: Providing continuity of care on a regional basis is a formidable challenge for the entire health and social services network, but ways of meeting this challenge are within reach.