Current status of rehabilitation activity and the new health care reform in Norway

The purpose of this study is to analyse the current activities of Norwegian ambulatory rehabilitation teams at a time when the field of rehabilitation is set for major changes with the recent introduction of the new pro-rehabilitation Coordination Reform. The content of the all logged consultations of four ambulatory teams belonging to one of the four regional health authorities was analysed in terms of municipality population size and, where possible, the age-distribution of the patients. Consultations were coded into one of four main codes, i.e. 'investigation and diagnostics; treatment and practical training; consultation, collaboration and training; and auxiliary measures'. A total of 2992 consultations were registered for period 2009–2012, with the far majority of consultations involving patients aged =67 years, and the elderly under-represented in especially the smaller municipalities. Analysis showed differential rehabilitation activity towards the elderly in the two rehabilitation teams which registered the far majority of consultations, which were also concentrated in only three of the 18 sub-codes. Provision of rehabilitation seems to lack an overall coordinating strategy. The kind and level of rehabilitation any given elderly person is entitled to, by and large, depends on the place of residence of the patient