Think right from the start - establishment of ME / CFS rehabilitation at a distance in Sweden

Purpose and goal:

ME / CFS is a neurological disease characterized by prolonged fatigue with severe disabilities with an estimated 10 000-40 000 affected in Sweden. There is no clinic north of Stockholm. Norrland covers half of Sweden´s area, which is why a digitized highly specialized rehabilitation is a highly topical solution.

Therefore, the purpose is to develop and evaluate a digital rehabilitation alternative for the patient group to be able to offer a more accessible, resource-efficient, and equal rehab. Expected results and effects:

An evaluated solution for cohesive digital rehab increases the availability of healthcare for these patients and has the potential to improve rehabilitation and quality of life. A digital solution also gives everyone throughout the country equal access. A positive result of innovation implementation for ME / CFS of digitally cohesive rehabilitation can be a forerunner for implementation in other patient groups in need of intensive rehabilitation programs, such as rheumatologists, Parkinson´s patients, etc.

Approach and implementation:

A common view and requirements specification are developed and form the basis for the completion of the rehabilitation program and content. Thereafter, a joint consultation review takes place with an admission of 20 patients who undergo a 4-week specialized interdisciplinary rehabilitation program according to a personal rehab plan and a 5-month structured follow-up period.

Rehabilitation is reviewed according to a structured evaluation template containing PROMs and PREMs. The process is followed by the region, rehabilitation service provider, patients, and evaluators.