The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehab, headed by Prof MS Dhillon, and under the patronage of the new Director PGI Prof Yogesh Chawla has launched four special clinics to upgrade the patient support systems at PGI. These super specialization clinics are unique as they do not exist in any center in our region, and have been formulated on International models which are running successfully worldwide. The PGI has now got excellent trained specialists in these areas, and the PMR Department has started these as an interdepartmental initiative to improve patient care.
Spine Clinic – Back School: Fridays 2:30-400 pm
Joint Initiative of PMR and Orthopaedics Dept: Back pain may not be a life threatening condition, but it constitutes a major public health problem. It affects a large number of people each year and is the cause of great discomfort and economic loss.Because of its high prevalence, back pain is a leading reason for physician visits;hospitalizations and other health and social care service utilization. Additionally, it creates disability and work loss, which in recent years have increased more rapidly than any other common form of incapacity
There is evidence suggesting that back schools, in an occupational setting, reduce pain, and improve function and return-to- work status. Back schools are designed to explain to patients the problems associated with their back pain and to allow the patients to help themselves through understanding and coping with their pain. The concept has been adapted in a number of ways over the years and now encompasses a relatively wide variety of techniques, but the aim remains the same. The back school usually consists of information on the anatomy of the back, biomechanics, optimal posture, ergonomics and back exercises. We will eventually have a documented record of all cases coming to OPD which will go a long way in research and eventual care of these patients.
Sports Injury Rehab Clinic: Saturdays 10-12 am
In addition to the successfully running Sports injury clinic functional under the Orthopaedics department on Thursdays, a Sports Rehab clinic has been initiated that will look after rehabilitation issues of these high performance individuals. A joint venture of the PMR and Orthopaedic departments, this clinic focuses on rehab issues in njured sports men, both at the physical level under the supervision of a sports physiotherapist, and at the mental level under supervision of a clinical psychologist, both of whom are full time employees of the PGI.
Specialized documentation is planned and this would be computerized, leading to appropriate record keeping and follow up of these high performance sportspersons, in an effort to accelerate mental and physical rehab, as well as allowing Pre-participation evaluation of sportspersons, to check for impending injuries and to try and ensure that these do not go on to disrupt player performances. PGI will try and interact with various sports associations in an attempt to document the problems of their players.
Cerebral Palsy Clinic Wednesdays 10-12 am
A special clinic for Cerebral Palsy patients has been initiated in continuation with the regular Paediatric Orthopaedic OPDs held on Wednesdays. The clinic is run at present in coordination between the departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist) and Orthopaedics (dedicated Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeons), and will be further extended to include collaboration with dedicated Psychologist and Paediatric Neurologist. An elaborative performa has been designed and is filled up individually for every patient. The format helps in regular monitoring and recording the progress of patient and regular audits are being planned for frequent update of the assessment Performa. An initiative for development of gait lab and gait analysis software in collaboration with engineering department is planned.
This is the first clinic of its type in the region, and is based on the successfully run Cerebral Palsy clinic in CMC, Vellore. International Collaborations in the field are being worked out, and tie-up is planned with NGOs for patient benefits. Our initiative is one of its kinds in the entire North India and we believe that it will help in better management and research of musculoskeletal problems associated with Cerebral Palsy patients.
CABG Clinic
Joint Initiative of PMR and Cardiology Dept: Thursdays 10-12 am
This special clinic is focused on the rehab of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass, and need to be made functional at the earliest. Run jointly by a senior physiotherapist in coordination with the Cardiovascular Surgery department, this clinic allows patients to get trained in routine exercises, method of doing daily chores, as well as specialized issues like breathing modulation, functional rehab, walking and stair climbing training, in addition to overall muscular development after CABG surgery
Upgradation of Hand Clinic
Joint Initiative of PMR and Plastic Surgery Deptts:
The existing Hand clinic which was being run by the Plastic surgery and Physiotherapy departments is being upgraded to include an Orthopaedic surgeon, Occupational therapist and a PMR specialist.
Proposed future clinics
FOOT CLINIC: Joint Initiative of Orthopaedics/ Endocrinology/PMR Deptts:
Coordination with Neurology Deptt to help Stroke patients by aggressive rehab