Structural and human resourcing of rehabilitation care in health care facilities of Transcarpathian region as the basis of rehabilitation component of the regional health care system

Abstract

In Ukraine, reforming rehabilitation in the field of health care at the national level requires the adaptation of health care facilities to the implementation of rehabilitation component of regional health care systems. The aim of the study was to analyse the resource provision (network and staffing) of health care institutions of Transcarpathian region in the field of rehabilitation, as the basis for transformation into a full-fledged rehabilitation system in accordance with the current reform of rehabilitation care in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The following methods were used in the research process: statistical, structural and logical analysis, generalization, graphic. Materials included published information from the industry statistical reporting of health care facilities in Transcarpathian region for 2011–2020: indicators of the availability of structural units, bedspace and staffing. Research results and their discussion. Over the period of the study, an absolute reduction in the number of beds for rehabilitation therapy, a decrease in the total number of rehabilitation departments (rooms) by 50%, therapeutic physical training rooms for adults - by 13.3%, and physiotherapy rooms - by 77.3% were established in the region. The sharpest reductions in the number of physiotherapy rooms in Transcarpathian region were observed in 2013 (by 42.6%) and 2018 (by 44.6%). The number of full-time positions of physiotherapists and exercise therapy doctors has fluctuated over the past 10 years and by 2020 has decreased by 13.0% and 41.4%, respectively, and exercise therapy nurses by 41.5%. Since 2021, doctors of physical and rehabilitation medicine have appeared in the official statistics of health care institutions of the region. Conclusions. The conducted study demonstrated a significant reduction in the network and staffing of rehabilitation treatment in health care facilities of Transcarpathian region during 2009-2020. However, the saved resources are available for use in order to create an effective system of rehabilitation care for the population of the region in accordance with WHO recommendations, current regulations and requirements of the National Health Service of Ukraine.