The utilization of human resources; a philosophic approach to rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION In a democratic society, we have no alternative than to recognize the individual's right to be aided to as much independence as is his desire and capacity. Furthermore, the economic welfare of the community demands the maximal utilization of all persons. Coincident to these is the realization that there are no dividing lines between health and disease, between work and inability to contribute. All of the humanistic treatment professions and agencies are furnishing various parts of the total community constellation of services. The efficiency of the entire effort may be enhanced if a common philosophy, definition and integrated plan are instituted for channeling the best efforts of all professions and groups. There are no dividing lines in the professional treatment of a human being other than arbitrary, for the human system is one. There have been, however, various assigned tasks established loosely by custom, law, education or inclination called professions, Furthermore, there are other conceptual frameworks such as preventive medicine, public health, and rehabilitation which may encompass several professions and overlap in activities. It may be possible under a more general unified concern such as human resources , for all to recognize many of the same things we are calling by various names or viewing differently because of diversified assumptions or philosophies. There is evidently a tremendous amount of agreement and an opportunity for still further concordance. Our efforts should be greatly rewarded by new knowledge and by knowledge in greater depth and clarity, if the many missing pieces are identified in a total framework of best human care. There may be, for example, the public aspects of rehabilitation and the preventive medicine aspects of rehabilitation. The concept of "habilitation" in rehabilitation would evidently include not only the medical but also the social, psychological and vocational, since the basic orientation is one of total development towards a mature citizenship. The preventive aspects of public health are also contributing to this goal, but possibly in a narrower sense. If there is a greater misfortune than to lose our purse or our good name, it is to lose precious time in argument. We can agree that our goal is the best "treatment" of homo sapiens and therefore meet in common spirit. While we should encourage debate to clarify our issues, we cannot afford to waste our efforts in settling minor differences one by one. If we can agree on a fundamental framework and attempt to define the basic concepts of this unitary system, we shall make more substantial progress. As the servants of man, our privileges stem from the essential moral principles which we all accept. The real violation is the assumption of prerogatives when we have neither the knowledge nor competence to assume them. Above all things, may we have the humility to open our minds to the intellectual problems involved and our hearts to the humanitarian necessity to do so. We are fortunate to begin with the same precept—service to mankind. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of the American Heart Association.