Stroke: health care on the periphery.

A study of decision-making among health providers who work with stroke patients provided information concerning stroke rehabilitation ideology and practice. Data collected from 32 professionals on the meaning of rehabilitation in relation to stroke revealed that stroke rehabilitation is considered to be on the periphery of American health care. Three factors contribute to the peripheral status of stroke rehabilitation: the health care system devalues rehabilitation; stroke rehabilitation differs from acute care medicine; and stroke is viewed as a geriatric problem.