Rehabilitation of the Tuberculous

Two-year Observations on a Group of Ambulatory Patients in a Tuberculous Hospital

¹ Chief, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Service.
² Executive Assistant, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Service.

In a two-year study, 57 tuberculous patients have been engaged in a rehabilitation program started in the infirmary wards and intensified during the final period of hospitalization. The need for such a service is essential since for many patients definitive medical and surgical care alone is not sufficient for total rehabilitation. As a result of the newer treatment methods used in this hospital, the disease is often brought under control sooner and more patients are referred to the rehabilitation service much earlier.

An analysis of the vocational goals achieved by 46 of the total 57 ambulant patients completing this program is presented. The patient activities in Educational Therapy and Manual Arts Therapy depends in large part on the rehabilitation goals set by joint planning of the patients, vocational adviser and ward physician with the ancillary services playing an important part. The study shows how the social worker and the staff psychologist promote better post-hospital adjustment by helping patients to understand their social and emotional problems more clearly. The role of the vocational adviser is stressed. His services include group discussions, individual counseling, and application of standard guidance procedures. He conducts field trips to nearby industrial plants to acquaint patients with the wide variety of job opportunities available to them despite their pulmonary handicap.

This study also shows how the physician estimates the work capacity of patients and how this is gradually built up to permit return to work or school with minimal risk of reactivation. Best results are obtained when the physician correlates the various rehabilitation activities and makes them an integral part of total medical care.