The comprehensive treatment team in rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation has prospered in the last several years, but that prosperity is threatened by competition, manpower shortages, continuing preoccupation with costs, and government deliberations about funding changes. The comprehensive treatment team has been the foundation of rehabilitation, but its appropriateness has to be looked at in light of current conditions in health care. Evidence of its effectiveness has been meager. This article is an examination of the origins of the team, its current functioning, and its research on effectiveness. Several alternatives to the current delivery system are suggested, although economic forces may overtake attempts to establish effectiveness by research.