Philippine Orthopedic Center
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Orthopedic Center is a 700 bed tertiary special Hospital under the Department of Health
Department of Health (Philippines)
The Philippines’ Department of Health is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of...

 of the Republic of the Philippines. The hospital is located at Maria Clara Cor. Banawe Sts, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...

.

History

The Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) was originally organized in Mandaluyong, Rizal by the American Army in 1945 as the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU) No. 1, to take care of civilian casualties during the liberation of Manila and its suburbs. After it was turned over to the Philippine government, its functions were redirected to look after accident victims and orthopedic cases. Its name was later changed to Mandaluyong Emergency Hospital then, to National Orthopedic Hospital.

In 1963, the hospital was relocated to Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...

. Its authorized bed capacity was increased from 200 to 500 then to 700. The hospital through the Hospital Chief, Benjamin V. Tamesis, MD, pioneered the introduction of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...

 and Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...

 courses in the Philippines. Both courses were later absorbed by the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...

 and was placed under the College of Medicine, then later became the School of Allied Medical Professions, now known as College of Allied Medical Professions.

In 1982, it was re-named National Orthopedic Hospital-Rehabilitation Medical Center (NOH-RMC), and again to Philippine Orthopedic Center in 1989, by virtue of Batas Pambansa No. 301 and Republic Act 6786, respectively.

Services

The Philippine Orthopedic Center caters mainly to a patient clientele with Orthopedic and Neuromuscular conditions. The Center is also the major referral center for Spinal injuries in the country.

The Medical Division consists of the Trauma Services, Adult Orthopedic Service, Children's Orthopedic service, Tumor Unit, Hand service and Spine Surgery service. The hospital also has the Anaesthesia department, Radiology Department, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Laboratory Department, Specialty Service and Dental service.

The Laboratory Department is divided into the Blood Bank, Bacteriology unit, and Clinical Pathology
Clinical pathology
Clinical pathology , Laboratory Medicine , Clinical analysis or Clinical/Medical Biology , is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids, such as...

 unit.

Its Rehabilitation Medicine Department has the Medical Rehabilitation Service, Physical Therapy section, the Occupational Therapy Section, Psychology Section, Electrodiagnostics Unit, Neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...

 Service and the Prosthetics and Surgical Appliance Factory.

The specialty service includes General Surgery
General surgery
General surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, e.g., intestines including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland . They also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast, soft...

, Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...

, Urology
Urology
Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...

, Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...

, Internal Medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...

 (pulmonary and cardiology) and Diabetes Care.

The Nursing Division comprises both the main Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....

 service and the Nursing training service.

The Social service and Chaplaincy is being placed under the Administrative office.

Training

Residency training for Orthopedics
Orthopedics
Orthopedics is the study of the musculoskeletal system. The Greek word 'ortho' means straight or correct and 'pedics' comes from the Greek 'pais' meaning children. For many centuries, orthopedists have been involved in the treatment of crippled children...

, Anaesthesia, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...

  and Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....

are recognized by the Certifying Boards of their specialty. To date, numerous physicians have trained within its walls.

The hospital also provides a good training ground for the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy students. Numerous Radiologic Technology interns, Medical Technology and Nursing affiliates have been trained. the fourth year medical students (or medical clerks) have been exposed to various orthopedic and Neuromuscular Conditions.
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