The aim of this study was to describe rehabilitation services for people injured in road crashes in Western Australia. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Interviews were held with 86 service providers in the private and public sectors. Quantitative information on the amount and type of rehabilitation services received by road crash casualties was obtained from the Road injury Database of the Road Accident Prevention Research Unit for all hospital admissions for the years 1993-1997 inclusive; from the information systems and medical records of tertiary, non-tertiary and country hospitals; and from the claims database of the insurance Commission of WA. A wide range of hospitals and other organisations in the public and private sectors provide rehabilitation services. They are funded by the third party motor vehicle insurance system through the Insurance Commission of WA. The services provided for each body region of injury were reviewed. Problems were identified with the provision, coordination and duplication of some services, in some circumstances. Recommendations for further action are made. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E202275. This article summarises a report published by Roadwatch (see ITRD E200343).
Abstract