Primary care for persons with spinal cord injury — not a novel idea but still under-developed

Abstract

Primary care for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has long been recognized as an important issue. Over the last two decades, there has not been any consensus on its contents, pathway or delivery model. Despite the lack of attention on this issue, various health care organizations and settings have successfully developed their own version of primary care for persons with SCI. On the other hand, persons with SCI have also found different ways to obtain primary care through Family Physicians and specialists, often depending on the health care structure of their country. This has blurred the line between what is traditionally seen as primary vs. specialist care. The "medical home" model may be ideal for SCI primary care, and it may be establishsed in different care settings. In order to create this model, health care funding structure, appropriate access to physical facility and SCI knowledge, interdisciplinary provider availability and collaboration, as well as active engagement with persons with SCI are necessary. The SCI community should endorse SCI primary care with effective advocacy and implementation.