Chronic Medical Conditions

Abstract As the American and global population ages, there is an increasing number of people living with chronic medical conditions and disability, often with multiple comorbidities. Given the complexity of these conditions, management cannot be compartmentalized and handled by only one medical specialist. Therefore, the physiatrist and rehabilitation medicine team are playing an ever-increasing role in the continuum of care in our evolving health care system in the management of such patients. Individuals with chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated complications, renal and hepatic diseases, and those undergoing solid organ transplantation will require rehabilitative services and the expertise of a physiatrist. It is essential that the rehabilitation medicine specialist be knowledgeable in the management of such conditions and potential complications.