acquired brain injuries ( abi ) are a crucial issue for healthcare and social services . in 2000 and 2005 two consensus conferences in italy [ 1 , 2 ] produced a set of recommendations to improve patients healthcare . in 2009 , to improve the continuum of care for acquired brain injuries in tuscany , italy ( 3,500,000 million inhabitants ) . for the 20032007 study period , a total annual number of 465770 incident cases of abi with residual serious disability was estimated on the basis of integrated computerized administrative databases . in 2008 , a multidisciplinary workgroup drafted a technical document designing a model of care based on : five fundamental steps of care , rigorous criteria for appropriate transfers between different steps , subgroups of patients requiring different combinations of steps according to their clinical conditions . the above - mentioned model of care is now being implemented throughout the region , addressing some readjustments of hospital beds , shared adoption of clinical protocols and integration between social and health care , different professional skills and subsequent levels of care . the strengths of this model are its flexibility and circularity : according to their clinical needs , patients belonging to different subgroups can move along the clinical pathway in several ways : through subsequent steps , bypassing intermediate steps or being readmitted to previous steps .
introductionacquired brain injuries ( abi ) are a crucial issue for healthcare and social services . in 2000 and 2005 
 two consensus conferences in italy [ 1 , 2 ] produced a set of recommendations to improve patients healthcare . in 2009 , a regional policy identified specific goals for this health problem in tuscany.aimsto improve the continuum of care for acquired brain injuries in tuscany , italy ( 3,500,000 million inhabitants).policy practice descriptionfor the 20032007 study period , a total annual number of 465770 incident cases of abi with residual serious disability was estimated on the basis of integrated computerized administrative databases.in 2008 , a regional project was started to improve the continuum of care for abi patients . 
 a multidisciplinary workgroup drafted a technical document designing a model of care based on : five fundamental steps of care , rigorous criteria for appropriate transfers between different steps , subgroups of patients requiring different combinations of steps according to their clinical conditions.conclusionsthe above - mentioned model of care is now being implemented throughout the region , addressing some readjustments of hospital beds , shared adoption of clinical protocols and integration between social and health care , different professional skills and subsequent levels of care.discussionthe strengths of this model are its flexibility and circularity : according to their clinical needs , patients belonging to different subgroups can move along the clinical pathway in several ways : through subsequent steps , bypassing intermediate steps or being readmitted to previous steps .