Rehabilitation in dermatology

History: In dermatology, follow-up treatment (AHB)/rehabilitation (AR) only exists for invasively growing malignant skin tumors. Around 2000, self-help organizations (Deutscher Psoriasis Bund/DPB) called for this form of follow-up rehabilitation, similar to that for severe respiratory diseases (asthma/COPD), also for severe inpatient skin diseases, which was supported by the Working Group for Rehabilitation in Dermatology (AReD) (under the leadership of Dr. Norbert Buhles, Sylt) and established via the Association of German Pension Insurance Institutions (VDR).

Administrative procedure which, under certain conditions, makes it possible to initiate an inpatient rehabilitation measure (rehab measure) at short notice after an acute inpatient stay due to atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Urgent treatment procedures are possible in dermatology for patients of working age (e.g. the patient has an account with the German Pension Insurance [DRV], benefits or similar) if early rehabilitation steps initiated on an inpatient basis are to be continued, completed, consolidated and/or concluded through structured and interdisciplinary rehabilitation measures; a rehabilitation facility provides a rehabilitation place at short notice, the cost bearer and the insured person making the application agree.

As with post-acute neurorehabilitation (P.A.N.), these measures ideally take place in "mixed facilities", i.e. in an acute and rehabilitation clinic at one location.

1. Buhles N. et al. (2019) Interdisciplinary S1-LL: Inpatient dermatologic rehabilitation. AWMF register no.: 013-083, 22
2. Buhles N. (2003) Social medical assessment for statutory pension insurance; skin diseases Springer-Verlag Heidelberg. S. 447
3. Lantzsch H et al. (2014) Rehabilitation for psoriasis: Quo vadis? Act Dermatol 40: 223-230