BALNEOLOGYBALNEOLOGY

IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICEPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• Balneology/Hydrotherapy is a common Balneology/Hydrotherapy is a common medical and often non medical practicemedical and often non medical practice

• Within the majority of European Within the majority of European countries this activity is linked to PRMcountries this activity is linked to PRM

• So we must look for this reality and So we must look for this reality and decide which aspects should concern decide which aspects should concern our speciality institutionsour speciality institutions

How ?How ?

• First of all it is necessary to separate First of all it is necessary to separate medical from non medical balneologymedical from non medical balneology

• This is also a matter of law as it deals This is also a matter of law as it deals with aspects such as competence, with aspects such as competence, ethics and professional or legal ethics and professional or legal responsibilityresponsibility

• It links also with the definition of It links also with the definition of “medical act” that is now under “medical act” that is now under discussion in many of our countries.discussion in many of our countries.

Balneology in PRM- 1Balneology in PRM- 1

• The second point of discussion is:The second point of discussion is:

- Is balneology within the PRM - Is balneology within the PRM speciality? - Is it a part of our activity?speciality? - Is it a part of our activity?

• Balneology is useful in all aspects of Balneology is useful in all aspects of prevention, treatment and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of impairments, rehabilitation of impairments, disabilities and in enhancing of disabilities and in enhancing of activities and participation.activities and participation.

Balneology and PRM- 2Balneology and PRM- 2

• All the aspects pointed yesterday by Prof. All the aspects pointed yesterday by Prof. C. Gutenbrunner should be taken in C. Gutenbrunner should be taken in consideration (questions as: balneology consideration (questions as: balneology as a speciality, a competence, overlaping as a speciality, a competence, overlaping with other specialities…)with other specialities…)

• Besides that we must think that Besides that we must think that hydrotherapy has been traditionaly used hydrotherapy has been traditionaly used as an important tool of our practiceas an important tool of our practice

BALNEOLOGY AND THE BALNEOLOGY AND THE ICF MODELICF MODEL

• balneology is additionaly an holistic health balneology is additionaly an holistic health treatment as it may be a kind of behavioural treatment as it may be a kind of behavioural therapy (control of risk factors for instance)therapy (control of risk factors for instance)

• This can be seen as an “environmental This can be seen as an “environmental factor” a within the ICF modelfactor” a within the ICF model

• There is now some evidence that Health There is now some evidence that Health Resorts have the same benefits as Resorts have the same benefits as environmental factors in the functional environmental factors in the functional outcomes in Rehabilitation Programmesoutcomes in Rehabilitation Programmes

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE SO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?DO?

1)1) Create an international glossary to Create an international glossary to define PRM terms in Balneology define PRM terms in Balneology pratice.pratice.

2)2) Defining competencies in different Defining competencies in different aspects of balneologyaspects of balneology

3)3) Create curriculum and education Create curriculum and education programmesprogrammes

Other strategiesOther strategies

• Participate with medical groups working Participate with medical groups working on these goals (ISMH - Prof T Bender, on these goals (ISMH - Prof T Bender, President - Prof C Gutenbrunner- Vice President - Prof C Gutenbrunner- Vice President) President)

• Join this discussion!Join this discussion!

• Participate in educational initiativesParticipate in educational initiatives

• Participatie in the process of accreditation Participatie in the process of accreditation of Balneology facilities , as some claim to of Balneology facilities , as some claim to be “rehabilitation” units.be “rehabilitation” units.

PROPOSALPROPOSAL

• A UEMS PRM Section STATEMENT A UEMS PRM Section STATEMENT concerning hydrotherapy and concerning hydrotherapy and balneologybalneology

STATEMENTSTATEMENT• The UEMS PRM Section recognizes the The UEMS PRM Section recognizes the

importance of Hydrotherapy, Balneology importance of Hydrotherapy, Balneology and Climatology in PRM practice and Climatology in PRM practice

• Evidence based data is now growing in Evidence based data is now growing in BalneologyBalneology

• More research is needed More research is needed • The UEMS PRM Section promotes good The UEMS PRM Section promotes good

clinical practice in PRM activities.clinical practice in PRM activities.• Create a Working Group on Balneology Create a Working Group on Balneology

within the Professional Affairs Committeewithin the Professional Affairs Committee– Work with ISMH Work with ISMH – Define taxonomy Define taxonomy – Advise on science and education initiativesAdvise on science and education initiatives