Education of Rehabilitation Medicine in Korea.

Abstract

In Korea, western medicine was introduced in 1885, when Dr. Horace Allen, an American missionary, established the first western medical hospital, ‘Kwanghye Won’, which was the original Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Then, the hospital renamed as ‘Chechung Won’.In 1886, the first education of medical students was started in ‘Chechung Won’. Later, in 1958, an educational course on Rehabilitation Medicine was introduced at Yonsei University College of Medicine for the first time.Education of Rehabilitation Medicine is included in the syllabuses of 40 among total 41 medical schools. Resident training requires the completion of a six year course in medical school and a year of rotating internship. A physiatrist is also required to undergo a four year course of resident training in an approved program.The number of resident training hospitals for Rehabilitation Medicine has increased since 1971, and the proportion of resident training hospitals for Rehabilitation Medicine among the total resident training hospitals has steadily increased. In addition, the number of residents in Rehabilitation Medicine training has increased. At present, 328 residents are undergoing Rehabilitation Medicine training in 2001.In 1983, twenty-two physiatrists were board certified in Korea for the first time, and the number of board certified physiatrists has increased gradually. In 2001, there were 591 board certified physiatrists practicing in Korea. The requirements for the board certification examination include a four year resident training, experiences with more than 300 patients, 200 cases of electromyographic studies, 12 out-hospital seminar attendances, 200 in-hospital seminar attendances and the publication of more than 3 scientific articles. The criterion for a pass at the board certification examination is a score of more than 60 of total 100 (score 60).In Korea, modern Rehabilitation Medicine has grown rapidly. However, education of Rehabilitation Medicine in Korea should overcome many problems still faced. For example, we should calculate and make a plan for adequate numbers of board certified physiatrists and related medical personnels in the future, and we should have a national license system for related medical personnel such as speech therapists and clinical psychologists. In addition, we need to establish a more adequate educational system for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and prosthetics and orthotics.