A reprofiling of the formerly independent internal hospital at Brno, Nový Lískovec, is under way as a constituent of transformation of a part of bed fund in the Czech Republic. The institution of 112 bed capacity was added to the Faculty Hospital at St Anna in Brno as an After-treatment and Rehabilitation Ward. The organization and technical measures aimed at a marked strengthening of rehabilitation in the treatment of patients transferred here from clinics and wards of Faculty Hospital were performed until the end of 2002. The number of physiotherapists increased from two to 11 and rehabilitation has been performed under the supervision of a physician with attestation examination according to a rehabilitation plan. The performed changes resulted in increased number of patients capable to be released into home care from 34% to 47%, decreased number of transfers to acute beds from 18% to 15%and the decrease of mortality from 25% to 13%.A total of 2,515 patients (789 in 2000, 797 in 2001 and 929 in 2002) have been treated in the period of observation. The obtained results document suitability of rehabilitation even in geriatric polymorbid and severely affected patients at the mean age of 75 years, who would be otherwise dependent on permanent institution social care.

        Key words: rehabilitation, physiotherapists, outcome of therapy, subsequent treatment, polymorbid, geriatric, severely affected, transformation of the bed fund, institutional social care