Organized at the department Commissioner's request in 1960, the Departmental Committee on Rehabilitation existed for one year. Its assigned activities were information exchange between medical bureaus, coordination of planning, review of existing programs and recommendations for future programs, and special assignments from the Commissioner. Members were division heads for Chronic Disease Services and Special Health Services, bureau heads for Medical Rehabilitation, Public Health Nursing, Medical Social Services, Adult Health and Geriatrics, Dental Health, and Hospital Review and Planning, and the director of the State Rehabilitation Hospital. The original mission quickly evolved into development of a five-year rehabilitation plan for the department. In 1961, staff in the Division of Special Health Services, which included Medical Rehabilitation, Dental Health, and administrative support for the Interdepartmental Health and Hospital Council, produced a final report outlining the statewide regional coordination and services development program that became the major accomplishment of the IHHC Committee on Rehabilitation. It also made recommendations for State Rehabilitation Hospital services, state rehabilitation personnel needs, evaluation, and public health and medical research.
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