Spa treatment is part of the he alth care system in Poland and is subject to certain legal regulations. What are spa facilities, how long can the treatment last and when does the patient pay for the stay?
Pursuant to the Act on Spa Treatment, the patient may use the following spa treatment facilities as part of the spa treatment:
- spa hospital;
- spa sanatorium;
- sanatorium, spa hospital for children;
- natural medicine institute;
- sanatorium, hospital in underground mining workings;
- spa clinic.
Procedures for obtaining referral for spa treatment
A referral for outpatient treatment is obtained by the insured person in a manner similar to inpatient treatment in a he alth resort sanatorium or a spa hospital. After receiving a referral for outpatient treatment, the patient agrees the date of arrival with the management of the spa facility to which he was referred. In the outpatient treatment, the patient provides himself / herself with food and accommodation.
Spa facilities
Spa treatment is carried out with the use of so-called spa treatment devices, such as: spa pump rooms; graduation towers; parks; movement paths; decorated sections of the sea coast; curative and rehabilitation spa pools; arranged underground mine workings.
The he alth resort sanatorium is to provide the patient with 24-hour he althcare services in stationary conditions. 24/7 medical and nursing care as well as he alth education.
Educational role of spa treatment
The educational role is very important from the point of view of the spa treatment tasks. It is during the talks with the doctor or nurse, through the questions asked, that the patient should learn as much as possible about his condition. Such knowledge allows the patient to return home after the end of treatment with a certain amount of knowledge about the methods of further treatment and prophylaxis. A patient is en titled to spa treatment or rehabilitation on the basis of a referral issued by a doctorhe alth insurance. Such a referral requires confirmation by the Provincial Department of the National He alth Fund competent for the place of residence of a specific patient.
Duration of spa treatment
The stay in the spa hospital lasts 21 days and is free of charge. The working person receives a sick leave during this time. A child's stay in a spa hospital lasts 27 days. In the case of a patient's stay in a spa sanatorium, the stay lasts 21 days and is partially payable. A working person carries out it as part of a holiday leave. The stay in the spa hospital during the spa rehabilitation lasts 28 days, is free of charge and takes place on the basis of a sick leave. As part of spa treatment, a patient who uses a spa sanatorium during spa rehabilitation is en titled to benefits lasting 28 days. Such stay is partially paid and takes place as part of a holiday leave. If the recipient's stay in a spa sanatorium falls in two billing seasons, the amount of the partial payment is calculated taking into account the number of days in a given billing season, respectively.
Spa outpatient treatment
Spa outpatient treatment for adults and children lasts from 6 to 18 days. The patient referred to this type of treatment bears the costs of the stay (he / she provides accommodation and meals on his / her own), while the National He alth Fund bears the costs of the procedures. Children and adolescents up to the age of 18, and if they continue their education - up to the age of 26, children with significant disabilities - without age limit, and children en titled to survivors' pensions do not pay for food and accommodation in a spa hospital for children, spa sanatorium for children and spa sanatorium.
Legal basis:Act on spa treatment, he alth resorts and he alth resort protection areas and on spa communes of April 24, 2012 (Journal of Laws of 2012, item 651)