Physical and rehabilitation medicine section and board of the European Union of Medical Specialists. Community context; history of European medical organizations; actions under way

Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2009 Sep-Oct;52(7-8):594-607. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2009.06.006. Epub 2009 Aug 14.
[Article in English, French]

Abstract

The European Community is based on a series of treaties and legal decisions, which result from preliminary documents prepared long before by different organizations and lobbies. The European union of medical specialists (Union européenne des médecins specialists [UEMS]) came into being in order to address the questions raised by European directives (e.g., free circulation of people and services, reciprocal recognition of diplomas, medical training, quality improvements). The specialty sections of the UEMS contribute actively to this work. The physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) section is composed of three committees: the PRM board is devoted to initial and continuing education and has published a harmonized teaching programme and organized a certification procedure, which can be considered as a European seal of quality; the Clinical Affairs Committee is concerned with the quality of PRM care, and it has set up a European accreditation system for PRM programs of care, which will help to describe PRM clinical activity more concretely; and the Professional Practice Committee works on the fields of competence in our specialty. This third committee has already published a White Book, and further documents are being prepared, based on both the International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) and reference texts developed by the French Federation of PRM.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Advisory Committees / organization & administration
  • Clinical Competence
  • Education, Medical / organization & administration
  • Education, Medical / standards
  • European Union / organization & administration*
  • France
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Interinstitutional Relations
  • Internationality
  • Medicine / organization & administration*
  • Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / history
  • Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / organization & administration*
  • Publishing
  • Rehabilitation / organization & administration*
  • Societies, Medical / history
  • Societies, Medical / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Societies, Medical / organization & administration*
  • Specialty Boards / organization & administration*