To estimate the need of neurologic rehabilitation capacities, a survey was taken involving all Bavarian hospitals specialized in the rehabilitation of neurologic patients. The hospitals were asked to report diagnosis, sex, age and Barthel-Index for each patient on a fixed day. Additional aggravating facts like tracheostoma, orienting- or communication disorder or swallowing difficulties were reported. If one of these complications was found then a Barthel-index of more than 50 points was reduced to 50 points. The so calculated index was called a modified Barthel-index (BIM). The data of 22 hospitals (10 acute care hospitals covering 362 beds, 10 rehabilitation centers covering 1153 beds and 2 children's hospitals covering 67 beds) could be analyzed. 87% of the patients in acute care hospitals, 42% of patients in rehabilitation centers and 73% in children's hospitals had a BIM of less than 100, i.e. they were handicapped in some way. The data for BIM-values of 0 points (totally dependent on external help) were 14%, 2% and 28% for acute care, rehabilitation and children's hospitals, respectively. Stroke was the diagnosis mentioned most frequently with 150 in acute care hospitals, 309 in rehabilitation centers and 6 patients in children's hospitals. Severe head injuries were typically concentrated in acute care hospitals (89), less in rehabilitation centers (26) and in children's hospitals (10).