The physiatrist and subacute rehabilitation

SR provides new challenges for delivering medical services. At the same time, it affords many new opportunities. Physiatrists now have additional choices in selecting the most appropriate level of care for their patients. They also have the opportunity to be involved in developing this less costly alternative level of care. To fully integrate SR into the continuum of patient care, managed care payers, physicians, and providers must become advocates for efficient use of supporting services for the patient. Physiatrists must select treatment options based on efficiency and evidence- based practice that produces the desired outcome. Clearly, there is a need for research to produce evidence-based practice for the optimal use of SR. This research will be facilitated when the physiatric and rehabilitation taxonomy of discourse about SR is clarified and followed with greater discipline.