[Regionalization of rehabilitation services. Survey of users of a Quebec center]

To understand the situation of and difficulties encountered by users of a supraregional rehabilitation institute when they are transferred from the institute to facilities in their own regions, and to discover how they address these difficulties.

Qualitative descriptive study.

Regions in Quebec served by a physical rehabilitation institute (Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec).

Thirty-nine people who used services at the institute and then sought rehabilitation in their own regions.

Telephone survey using a validated questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions.

About 69% of users had difficulty obtaining adequate follow up in their regions; the regions lacked professionals with expertise; more efficient methods of communication are required; and physicians' role in providing continuity of care needs to be recognized.

Providing continuity of care on a regional basis is a formidable challenge for the entire health and social services network, but ways of meeting this challenge are within reach.