Jornal Internacional de Medicina Física e Reabilitação
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Physiatrist Expertise is Critical for Patients to Obtain Essential Medical Care

Craig H. Lichtblau, Christopher Warburton, Gabriel Meli, Allyson Gorman

Millions of patients each year suffer traumas or are diagnosed with diseases that will leave them in debilitated states that require long-term care. Evaluating the needs of these patients is critical for ensuring that they get the medical care they need to prevent future complications, costs, and poor outcomes. These assessments have long been performed by those lacking the relevant expertise. Instead, physiatrists, who undergo medical training in pain and dysfunction, should be consulted when determining the long-term care and associated costs for these patients. Given that the U.S. healthcare system does not tend to cover much of the needs of this population of patient and families are often bankrupt as a result, medical and financial planning are particularly important in this context.