PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Besemann, Markus
TI  - Physical rehabilitation following polytrauma. The Canadian Forces Physical Rehabilitation Program 2008–2011
AID  - 10.1503/cjs.025511
DP  - 2011 Dec 01
TA  - Canadian Journal of Surgery
PG  - S135--S141
VI  - 54
IP  - 6 Suppl 1
4099  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/54/6_Suppl_1/S135.short
4100  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/54/6_Suppl_1/S135.full
SO  - CAN J SURG2011 Dec 01; 54
AB  - As a consequence of Canada’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan, many members of the Canadian Forces have experienced debilitating injuries. Despite the Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) having outstanding relationships with many civilian care providers for the rehabilitation of injured soldiers, it became apparent early on that the high-level goals and aspirations of these returning soldiers were sometimes beyond the capability of these centres to facilitate. From this reality grew the need to develop a Physical Rehabilitation Program within the CFHS. This article describes the lessons learned since the creation of the program and outlines the future vision in terms of unique challenges and opportunities. The primary purpose of this article is to describe a hybrid model of civilian–military rehabilitation for injured soldiers and discuss the benefits and challenges of such a model of care.