2019

This is a Finalist in the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

City of Ilagan Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center

Organization

Local Government Unity - City of Ilagan

Summary

The City Government of Ilagan has established the City of Ilagan Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (CIPMRC), to cater to the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) constituents.  Its vision is to economically and socially integrate PWDs in the community and to motivate them to actively participate in the overall sustainable development efforts of the City of Ilagan. 

As it is, PWDs endure life’s battle more difficult and complex than other people do.  The least that we could do is to remove the physical, cultural, economic, communication, mobility, and attitudinal barriers that impede differently disabled people who have physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments to enable them functional and productive members of the community.

Background and Problem

The objective of the program the City of Ilagan Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (CIPMRC) aims to: 

  • Provide assistive devices and support services like conducting counseling to PWDs and their immediate family members regarding appropriate care and nutrition.
  • Work closely with the City Social Welfare and Development Office concerning the socio-economic aspect of the program.
  • Properly identify and register PWDs for the much-needed representation essential in the inclusion of their needs in development planning.
  • Strengthen the moral values and socio-economic capacity of PWDs and their household for a meaningful and responsive social integration, and
  • Promote social justice through the strict monitoring of laws and policies related to all aspects of accessibility.   

The least that the agency could do is remove the physical, cultural, economic, communication, mobility, and attitudinal barriers that impede people with disabilities, thus enabling them to function as productive members of the community.

Solution and Impact

The services of CIPMRC are classified into two: Adult and Pediatric Services.  The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation under Adult Services offers Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, and the Pediatric PT.  Pediatric Services is focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and administers Occupational, Behavioral, and Speech Therapy.  

Restoring a patient’s condition to the maximum level of capacity in terms of physical, socio-economic, and psychological functioning requires a series of Physical Therapy sessions, depending on the patient’s progress.  A typical therapy session ranges from P1,000.00 to P1,500.00 per session.  It is for this reason that patients who have suffered impairments as a result of cardiopulmonary (CP) or neuro-musculoskeletal (NMS) problems were not able to receive appropriate treatment and intervention.  In the process, their health condition will further deteriorate and they will not be able to regain full integration into society.  Under the CIPMRC, this medical service and provision of ambulatory assistive devices are being given to the Ilagueño patients free of charge.

Similarly, as for the Pediatric Services, conditions that are not met with the proper intervention will result in difficulty in coping up with learning, emotional, and behavioral issues later in life.  Early intervention is important to have a comprehensive treatment to help them adapt to their environment and reach their full potential.  Lifetime therapy is required.

Since its launching in September 2016 up to December 2017, the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Adult and Pediatric was able to administer about 4,053 therapy sessions or an average of 4 Million worth of services.  Under the Pediatric Category, the CIPMRC has conducted a total of 1,575 therapy sessions or an average of about P 2.3 Million worth of services.  Having an annual budget of 3.69 Million in 2017, this evidence shows that the operational cost of the CIPMRC exceeds its benefits. 

Milestones

The CIPMRC facilitated the distribution of a total of 79 wheelchairs, 61 canes, 37 crutches, and other assistive devices. The project has also provided educational toys and similar implements for children under the ASD category.  Through CIPMRC, we were also able to receive grants from NGOs supporting this advocacy considering that the agency already has the existing facility and program.

More than this, the CIPMRC has caused social awareness and certainly transformed the lives of the PWDs and their families, not only because of the medical intervention that is being provided but also because of the socio-economic aspect of the program.   This year, the agency is considering funding for the provision of hearing aids and prosthetics.  The agency has also provided educational toys and similar implements for children under the ASD category.