With the increasing frequency of disasters and the significant upsurge of survivors with severe impairments and long-term disabling conditions, there is a greater focus on the importance of rehabilitation in disaster management. During disasters, rehabilitation services confront a greater load due to the influx of victims, management of persons with pre-existing disabilities and chronic conditions, and longer-term care continuum. Despite robust consensus amongst the international disaster response and management community for the rehabilitation-inclusive disaster management process, rehabilitation is still less prioritised. Evidence supports the early involvement of rehabilitation professionals in disaster response and management for minimising mortality and disability, and improving clinical outcomes and participation in disaster survivors. In the last two decades, there have been substantial developments in disaster response/management processes including the World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative, which provides a standardized structured plan to provide effective and coordinated care during disasters. However, rehabilitation-inclusive disaster management plans are yet to be developed and/or implemented in many disaster-prone countries. Strong leadership and effective action from national and international bodies are required to strengthen national rehabilitation capacity (services and skilled workforce) and empower international and local EMTs and health services for comprehensive disaster management in future calamities. This narrative review highlights the role of rehabilitation and current developments in disaster rehabilitation; challenges and key future perspectives in this area.

Citations

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Objective
To describe the current status of medical care for victims of industrial disaster in Korea, and especially for representative diseases requiring rehabilitation, such as ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke, intervertebral disc disease, and spinal fracture. Method Data were extracted from the electronic data interchange database of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. Patients who had been approved as industrial disaster victims between January 1 and December 31, 2006 were included. This study covered 4 representative diagnoses: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, intervertebral disc disease, and spinal fracture. We conducted an analysis of the length of in-patient and out-patient treatment, total length of treatment, medical cost according to types of disease, first admitted medical institute, age, sex, and the number of admissions from the approved time up to June 30, 2008. Results A total of 4,581 patients were included. There were 49, 373, 1,223, and 2,936 patients with ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, intervertebral disc disease, and spinal fracture, respectively. The total length of care tended to be longer in cases of neurologic disease. Positive correlations were observed between the total length of treatment and the type of first admitted medical institute in cases of ischemic stroke and spinal fracture. Medical cost showed an increasing trend in association with length of in-patient care. Conclusion Differences were observed in the total length of care and medical cost, depending on the type of disease. The number of admissions showed a correlation with the length of inpatient treatment. The length of inpatient treatment was the most important factor determining medical cost.