A Model of Care for Community Reintegration: The Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program was established to extend the rehabilitation of veterans and active duty service members past the acute phase and reintegrate them into the community. Effective community reintegration is best achieved with a diverse interdisciplinary team that treats patients' physical, cognitive, and psychological deficits in a collaborative approach. Barriers, such as lack of accurate awareness of functional limitations and premorbid psychosocial stressors, can limit the recovery process. Recovery from polytrauma injuries is often a lifelong process, with the goal of maximizing functional independence and quality of life.