Resumo

ALFARO REDONDO, César. Behavior of services demand in the physical therapy sub-area of the National Rehabilitation Center, 2002-2006. Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.33, pp.08-14. ISSN 1409-1429.

Background: In Costa Rica, health services delivery related to rehabilitation presents a major concentration in urban areas, no changes in service delivery, and lack of strategies for facing the population´s demographic transition. The conditions mentioned above, produce difficulties in providing rehabilitation services within the network of hospitals in the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social and therefore in the Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación - a National Specialized Hospital. Objective: The present study approaches the dynamics of service delivery in Physical Therapy as conducted by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. The main objective of the study was to analyze the behavior of demand served in the Physical Therapy Sub-Area of the Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación for patients in ambulatory consultation during the period 2002-2006. Method: The data were obtained from the 60 monthly statistical reports, with which a retrospective, descriptive and qualitative analysis was performed. Results: The results showed a predominance of physiotherapy treatments, treatments with other physical agents, and electrotherapy during the sessions. Conclusions: These findings will allow to develop efforts oriented towards a better referal to levels of lower complexity, which will permit optimization of coverage and accesibility to the services.

Palavras-chave : physical therapy; rehabilitation demand in health; health management.

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