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Accessing timely rehabilitation services for a global aging society? Exploring the realities within Canada's universal health care system.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Landry, MD; Raman, S; Al-Hamdan, E
Published in: Curr Aging Sci
July 2010

The proportion of older persons is increasing in developed and developing countries: this aging trend can be viewed as a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it represents remarkable successes regarding advances in health care; and on the other hand, it represents a considerable challenge for health systems to meet growing demand. A growing disequilibrium between supply and demand may be particularly challenging within publicly funding health systems that 'guarantee' services to eligible populations. Rehabilitation, including physical therapy, is a service that if provided in a timely manner, can maximize function and mobility for older persons, which may in turn optimize efficiency and effectiveness of overall health care systems. However, physical therapy services are not considered an insured service under the legislative framework of the Canadian health system, and as such, a complex public/private mix of funding and delivery has emerged. In this article, we explore the consequences of a public/private mix of physical therapy on timely access to services, and use the World Health Organization (WHO) health system performance framework to assess the extent to which the emerging system influences the goal of aggregated and equitable health. Overall, we argue that a shift to a public/private mix may not have positive influences at the population level, and that innovative approaches to deliver services would be desirable to strengthening rather than weaken the publicly funded system. We signal that strategies aimed at scaling up rehabilitation interventions are required in order to improve health outcomes in an evolving global aging society.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Curr Aging Sci

DOI

EISSN

1874-6128

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

3

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 150

Location

United Arab Emirates

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Public Sector
  • Private Sector
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Organizational Objectives
  • National Health Programs
  • Interinstitutional Relations
  • Humans
  • Health Services for the Aged
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
 

Citation

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Landry, M. D., Raman, S., & Al-Hamdan, E. (2010). Accessing timely rehabilitation services for a global aging society? Exploring the realities within Canada's universal health care system. Curr Aging Sci, 3(2), 143–150. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874609811003020143
Landry, Michel D., Sudha Raman, and Elham Al-Hamdan. “Accessing timely rehabilitation services for a global aging society? Exploring the realities within Canada's universal health care system.Curr Aging Sci 3, no. 2 (July 2010): 143–50. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874609811003020143.
Landry, Michel D., et al. “Accessing timely rehabilitation services for a global aging society? Exploring the realities within Canada's universal health care system.Curr Aging Sci, vol. 3, no. 2, July 2010, pp. 143–50. Pubmed, doi:10.2174/1874609811003020143.

Published In

Curr Aging Sci

DOI

EISSN

1874-6128

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

3

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 150

Location

United Arab Emirates

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Public Sector
  • Private Sector
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Organizational Objectives
  • National Health Programs
  • Interinstitutional Relations
  • Humans
  • Health Services for the Aged
  • Health Services Needs and Demand