Referrals to rehabilitation therapy are often made to aid people in making successful recoveries from serious medical incidents, surgery, illness or injury. Rehabilitation is also often suggested for patients who suffer with chronic conditions like arthritis, heart disease or diabetes, for instance, to aid them in managing these diseases and reducing their impact on day-to-day quality of life. For patients who receive these referrals, choosing the right short term rehab program for their needs is important, a process that begins with understanding the differences between the two basic categories of rehab offered today: Outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation programs.