M. B. P. De Costa

27/08/2012

3rd post

Ragama Rehabilitation Center

                Rehabilitation is a process that is targeted to achieve maximum possible independency in physical, mental and social functions in day to day life, following a disease or a trauma.

                Ragama rehabilitation center is the largest hospital which provides rehabilitation care in Sri Lanka, mainly for physical disabilities.

                Current staff of Ragama rehabilitation center contains,
                                           ·       Two consultants and twelve medical officers
                                           ·        Nursing staff of fifty

                                     ·         Minor staff

It has ten wards and around 250 beds. Ragama rehabilitation center is a tertiary care hospital, so there are no direct admissions to hospital. Ragama rehabilitation center functions under four main sections,

                                     ·         Orthopedic

                                     ·         Neurological

                                     ·         Pediatrics ( cerebral palsy)

                                     ·         Spinal cord injuries

 Each section has a separate physiotherapy and occupational therapy department. Each and every section of the hospital takes multidisciplinary approach towards all of its patients.

                                     ·         Physiotherapy – to prevent contractures

 Restore gross motor functions as much as possible

                                     ·         Skin care – Prevention of pressure sores

         §  Change position every two hourly

         §  Log rolling

         §  Air and water mattress

                                    ·         Other medical problems

         §  Bladder and bowel functioning

         §  Prevention of UTI

         §  Train for self-intermittent catheterization

                                    ·         Occupational therapy

         §  Mainly improve upper limb functions

         §  Dressing, washing and toileting

                                    ·         Vocational training

         §  Training in occupations those are compatible in carrying out with disabilities.

                                    ·         Speech therapy

                                    ·         Psychological support

         §  Family and social life

         §  Counseling

Parallel to above facilities, there are,

      §  Wheel chair workshop

      §  School of prosthetists  and orthosists

in Ragama rehabilitation center. In wheel chair workshop it manufactures free wheel chairs for hospital patients as they require. There are seven occupants and three of them were rehabilitated in the hospital.

 School of prosthetists  and orthosists not only trains prosthetists  and orthosists but also manufacture artificial limbs and other supporting devices to paitents.

Spinal cord injury rehabilitation section is the largest of such in Sri Lanka. After acute stages of the spinal injuries are managed in a hospital, patients are transferred here for long term institutional based rehabilitation. The goals are

         §  Maximum possible independency in self-care activities

   §  Washing

   §  Feeding

   §  Toileting

   §  Dressing

         §  Training in usage of wheel chairs and other supporting devices

        §  Prevention of other co morbidities

In nutshell, Ragama rehabilitation center provides an immense service to a group of human beings who are mistreated by nature and some other human beings.