History of the European College of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ECPRM)
At a time when the medical specialty of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine was neither well-known nor officially named, dedicated professionals laid the groundwork for its recognition across Europe. Their efforts led to the creation of four key European organizations that played a crucial role in establishing Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) as an autonomous specialty in all European countries:
- 1963: European Federation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- 1969: Académie Médicale Européenne de Médecine de Réadaptation
- 1971: PRM Section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
- 1991: European College of PRM
Since 1990, members of the PRM Section have worked toward establishing the European College of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ECPRM), the fourth key organization representing European specialists. The Collège Européen de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation (ECPRM) was officially registered on July 19, 1991, in The Hague, Netherlands, home of the European Court of Justice. Since 1991, responsibility for educational affairs within the PRM Section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) has been delegated to the newly established Collège Européen de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation Fonctionnelle (ECPRM), which has acted as the European Board, in accordance with the UEMS provisions for specialist training. Over time, the organization began being served by the European Board of PRM.
The founders and contributors to these organizations were deeply committed to both the advancement of the medical specialty and PRM and the broader vision of European integration.
Sources:
- European Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Bodies Alliance. White Book on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) in Europe. Chapter 4. History of the specialty: where PRM comes from. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2018;54(2):186-197.
- European Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Bodies Alliance. White Book on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) in Europe. Chapter 5. The PRM organizations in Europe: structure and activities. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2018;54(2):198-213.