Due to the rise of the new Omicron variant and an influx of COVID-19 cases in the country, Filipinos are once again confined to their homes, either due to implementations by their local government units, or self-imposing these measures just to keep safe. This means that certain medical tests and procedures have gone back to being remotely accessed.
Fortunately, Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is prepared for such a situation. Continuing with their quality and patient-centered services, the institution expanded its mobile clinic program with their latest healthcare innovation, Hospital on Wheels.
Taking its cue from its predecessor, the Cardinal on Wheels, the Hospital on Wheels is a larger, 32-foot, ten-wheeler mobile clinic, and is fully equipped to accommodate a variety of hospital services like laboratory tests such as Urinalysis, Fecalysis, and Complete Blood Count among others, and is capable of specialized tests like ECG, Ultrasound, and 2D-Echo. Finally, CSMC’s top medical professionals and staff can also conduct consultations.
While the initial program was developed out of CSMC’s desire to meet the medical needs of the community and reach as many patients who need medical care, the Hospital on Wheels takes it one step further by bringing it to corporate partners, small to medium enterprises, private villages and condominiums.
Such an effort was acknowledged and even praised by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr., emphasizing during the launch last December how the program benefits the community and helps the government in curbing the pandemic’s effects.
For more information about CSMC’s Hospital on Wheels, please call 0928-5543217 or 8724-4115. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.
Globe extends free and unlimited internet connection via its GoWiFi services to more hospitals nationwide as more COVID-19 cases are being confirmed in areas outside Metro Manila. This is to augment the efforts of more medical frontliners, and help patients and their loved ones to stay connected and informed in the country's fight against the pandemic.
GoWiFi is available in the following medical institutions from March 16 until April 15, 2020:
Agusan del NorteMJ Santos Hospital Holy Child Colleges of Butuan Hospital
BataanBataan St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center Corp.
Batangas
Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center Lipa City District Hospital Lipa Medix Medical Center Mary Mediatrix Medical Center San Antonio Medical Center
Bohol
Ramiro Community Hospital
BenguetBenguet General Hospital
BulacanMendoza General Hospital QualiMed Hospital Altaraza Rugay General Hospital
Camarines SurNICC Doctors Hospital
CapizCapiz Emmanuel Hospital
CaviteEmilio Aguinaldo College Medical Center - Cavite
CebuCebu Community Hospital Cebu Doctors Hospital
Davao del SurDavao Doctors Hospital Davao Limso Hospital Davao Medical Center (Southern Philippines Medical Center) Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. San Pedro Hospital
Ilocos NorteGov. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital
Ilocos SurGabriela Silang General Hospital
Iloilo
West Visayas State University Medical Center
Medicus Medical Center
The Medical City Iloilo
QualiMed Hospital Iloilo
Isabela
Isabela United Doctors Med Center
La UnionLa Union Medical Diagnostic Center and Hospital Inc.
LagunaHealthServ Los Banos Medical Center San Pablo Medical Center The Medical City South Luzon QualiMed Hospital Nuvali
Misamis OccidentalMedina Medical Center
Misamis Oriental
Polymedic Velez
Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital Inc.
Negros Occidental
The Doctor's Hospital - Visayas
Caritas Health Shield Inc.
Negros OrientalHoly Child Hospital
Pampanga
The Medical City Clark
PangasinanPangasinan Doctors Hospital
South CotabatoSocsargen County Hospital
ZambalesJames L. Gordon Hospital Our Lady of Lourdes International Medical Center
Zamboanga del SurDoctors Hospital West Metro Medical Center
GoWiFi services have also been available since March 13 in select public and private hospitals in Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Taguig and other areas in Metro Manila as support to the national government’s call for community quarantine in the region. This brings to a total of 68 hospitals being supported by Globe.
Globe and TM customers who subscribed to telehealth provider KonsultaMD may also consult with a doctor via the 79880 telehealth hotline without incurring mobile call charges. This is to help decongest physical consultations at hospitals and mitigate the risks of patient exposure to the virus.
Initiative stresses need for more hospitals in the Philippines to be equipped for stroke
In light of the upcoming World Stroke Day on October 29, the Angels Initiative, a healthcare program that aims to improve hospital care for people who just suffered a stroke, recently hosted a roundtable for the media called, “Angels Initiative: Improving Stroke Care in Asia,” at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
The Angels Initiative is composed of dedicated consultants who provide doctors, nurses and ambulance crews with the training and support they need to create and improve the treatment pathways and processes around stroke care. The Angels consultants run assessments together with the hospitals; compare existing processes with guidelines; provide training and ongoing support for the hospital staff as well as process- and quality-monitoring.
The media roundtable was held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Stroke Conference (APSC) in Manila on October 2-5, 2019. The APSC focused on highlighting the burden of stroke, globally and locally in the Philippines. The event also featured global and regional key opinion leaders, which includes spokespersons from APSC, Angels Initiative and the World Stroke Organization (WSO). There was also recognition of new hospitals in Southeast Asia & South Korea (SEASK) who received their first WSO Angels Awards at the event.
Stroke: A Common killer
When does stroke exactly happen? A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding into the brain. A blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes.
People age 55 or older have a higher risk of stroke than younger people do. Men have a higher risk of stroke than women do. Women are usually older when they have strokes, and they're more likely to die of strokes than are men. “One third of 17 million people die from stroke after exhibiting its symptoms. Another third are left disabled permanently. It is alarming to note that two-thirds of stroke attacks in the world happen in Asia,” according to Prof. Dr. Jose Navarro, Chair of the Neurosonology Group of the Philippine Neurological Association and former President of the Stroke Society of the Philippines. “In the Philippines, stroke is the second leading cause of death”
It is also crucial to note that stroke is such a time-sensitive disease that for every minute it is left untreated, up to two million-brain cells die.
“There are more chances that an outcome will be most favorable when a stroke patient receives care 60 minutes upon arrival at the hospital,” explained Prof. Dr. Michael Brainin, President of the World Stroke Organization. “These patients are more likely to become independent and have a higher possibility of going back home after surviving the disease.”
Making hospitals stroke-ready
This is what the Angels Initiative addresses. For the initiative, treating patients as soon as possible, following the best standards of care in dedicated stroke centers, is important so that they can have better chances of survival and living disability-free lives. The initiative provides hospitals with the resources and the support they need as well as the needed training for their doctors and staff so that they can be truly stroke-ready.
Every country that the Angels Initiative is present in has an “Angels Consultants Team” that supports hospitals in implementing stroke care improvement programs. A hospital or center will be considered stroke-ready when it has reached a standardization of processes, which will ensure that stroke treatment is given within 60 minutes of the patient arriving at the hospital.
About the Angels Initiative in the Philippines
The Angels Initiative was launched by Boehringer Ingelheim and endorsed by the European Stroke Organization (ESO) and the World Stroke Organization (WSO). It began in Europe with a team of stroke experts back in November 2014 and now in SEASK (Southeast Asia and South Korea).
An important aspect of the Angels Initiative is the collaboration with local medical organizations, such as the Stroke Society of the Philippines and the Philippine Neurological Association.
Here in the Philippines, the initiative has made considerable progress since it began in 2017 with one Angels stroke consultant and 18 target hospitals in consultation. There are now 11 stroke-ready hospitals in the country with five fully-dedicated Angels consultants and 42 hospitals nationwide in active consultation.
Among the 42 hospitals in consultation, the National Capital Region has the most number with 25 hospitals, followed by Davao, with four hospitals. Cordillera Autonomous Region, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas are also some of the regions with hospitals that are part of the Angels network.
Thomas Fischer
According to Thomas Fischer, Boehringer Ingelheim Global Project Lead of the Angels Initiative, in 2018, 265 more Filipino patients were treated for stroke, which accounts to 11 percent more Filipino patients having a second chance at life.
“There are currently 98 Philippine hospitals registered in the Angels Initiative website,” added Fischer. “This is a huge jump from the 32 registrants in 2018.”
During the APSC, Baguio General Hospital and Makati Medical Center received the Q2 2019 WSO Gold Award. The WSO Angels Awards are designed to acknowledge and honor teams and individuals committed to quality improvement in stroke practice and to establish a culture of continued monitoring.
For hospitals that are interested in finding out more about the Angels Initiative and how they can be properly equipped to become stroke-ready, they can schedule a consultation with the Angels Team by registering through the official website: www.angels-initiative.com
More About the Angels Initiative
Suffering a stroke is one of the most devastating medical emergencies that can happen to a person. Fifteen million people worldwide suffer a stroke every year; one-third of these people die as a consequence; another third is left permanently disabled. Guidelines recommend that patients who have had a stroke are treated in a specialized stroke unit by a dedicated team. In turn, treatment should be initiated as quickly as possible after onset of symptoms, but this does not always happen.
A dedicated team of Angels consultants provide doctors, nurses and ambulance crews with the training and support they need to create and improve the treatment pathways and processes around stroke care. The Angels consultants run assessments together with the hospitals; compare existing processes with guidelines; provide training and ongoing support for the hospital staff as well as process- and quality-monitoring. Examples of these measures include checklists, which help to standardize processes and to limit unnecessary delays. In addition, the Angels Initiative offers educational tools and programs – digital as well as analogue, support for pre- and in-hospital process optimization and a community platform for peer-to-peer exchange and access to the world’s leading stroke specialists.
For further information on the Angels Initiative, visit: https://www.angels-initiative.com
Hospitals and healthcare institution provides patient treatment with specialized medical and nursing staff and medical equipment. Hospitals adopt strategies to address challenges or proactively reinforce their values, and will make waves in their healthcare. Medical staff and doctors who are eminent in their areas of specialty always do research and always teach staff, nurses, and medical students more.
* ManilaMed
ManilaMed values the good of every patient before anything else. This is why ManilaMed strives to equip them with only state-of-the-art medical equipment and the country’s top healing professionals, still with compassionate healthcare at their very core.
What touches more my heart about ManilaMed is their creed, “For every person who walks through our doors we promise nothing but our very best – all in the interest of making them feel better." From this, I concluded to myself that they’re not just a typical hospital in the country. They are healing professionals with a heart for the patient. They are not just doing their job; they are inspiring every patient as instruments to really feel better.
Moreover, ManilaMed values the good of every patient before anything else by responding to the needs of the community in the preservation of health through education, training and research.
* Center for Women's Health
As the first hospital in the Philippines to provide a center specifically for women, ManilaMed has 5 major subspecialties that are now housed in this one stop shop center – Center for Women’s Health, all of them concerned with health conditions specifically for females.
Dra. Maynila Domingo
Last February 16, a forum about Dystocia (Difficulty in Labor) was hosted by ManilaMed at Dr. Paulo C. Campos Hall of the hospital located at UN Avenue, Manila.
I was glad that I was invited to participate in the forum about Dystocia attended by medical students, health professionals, patients, and the general public.
I have learned a lot of things during the forum that I can relate into as a mother. I am glad to share to you what I have discovered which can be of great help for all mothers and soon-to-be mothers.
Dra. Maynila Domingo of ManilaMed’s Maternal and Fetal Medicine was the speaker during the forum whom I have learned many things in understanding the process of normal labor and delivery, the causes of dysfunctional labor, the risk factors for dysfunctional labor, and the management and prevention of dysfunctional labor.
First, let us know what Dystocia is.
The word dystocia, as what Dra. Domingo said is a difficult labor, abnormal labor, difficult childbirth, abnormal childbirth, and dysfunctional labor.
Dystocia is a dysfunctional labor from failure of the expulsive power of the womb, from obstruction to the birth passage or from abnormalities in the size, shape or presentation of the baby.
LABOR is the process that leads to childbirth. It begins with the onset of regular uterine contractions and ends with delivery of the newborn and expulsion of the placenta. It is undoubtedly true that pregnancy and birth are part of a physiological processes, and as such, labor and delivery should be considered to be normal for most women (Lawrence, 2012)
DELIVERY
Expulsion of the fetus from the uterus
VAGINAL
- Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery
- Assisted vaginal delivery (forceps, vacuum)
ABDOMINAL
- Caesarean section
During the Dystocia Forum, Dra. Domingo shared the factors that influence labor and delivery and she presented the 5 P's of Labor :
Passage
Position
Passenger
Psyche
Power
The DystociaForum was a great medium for medical students. I have also learned a lot about dysfunctional labor on childbirth.
From this forum, I have realized the essence of being a mother. A mother’s duty is to raise her children the way she deems right, so that they may become as responsible as her, to make sacrifices for those she loves and to give of her best. Good thing there’s Center for Women’s Heath wherein women can take care of themselves better with quality services from ManilaMed’s healing professionals. I must say there is a need to take ManilaMed’s new Center for Women’s Health on the spotlight.
Being a mother means being there to teach your child important rules and roles of life, from being an empathetic human being to learning how to be responsible of one's actions. Mothers will guide their children to figure out their goals and values in life as well as teach them the importance of education, manners and more. Mothers will also discipline their children, a skill that will benefit children throughout their journey whether at school, work and in life.
So it’s better to take care of ourselves too to take care of our family. For me, that’s the essence of being a mother.
Learn more about the Center for Women’s Health at the 5th Floor of ManilaMed, United Nations Avenue corner Taft Avenue, Manila 1000.
(L-R) Dr. Antonio S. Abacan Jr., Chairman and Acting President of Manila Medical Services Incorporated; Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Dr. George S.K. Ty, Group Chairman of Metrobank Group of Companies; and Augusto Palisoc Jr., President and CEO of the Metro Pacific hospital group, grace the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the MDH New Tower Grand Lobby.
Gearing towards major expansion, Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) formally introduced the new medical tower named after the father of MDHs benefactor Dr. George S.K. Ty, with Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada leading the ribbon-cutting and blessing on December 8.
Located along T.M. Kalaw Street and overlooking Rizal Park, Norberto Ty Medical Tower will function as the new home of more specialty centers, patient rooms and clinics.
The formal blessing for the grand lobby was succeeded by the unveiling of Don Norberto Ty’s bust. Mayor Estrada praised the Hospital's record of service under the stewardship of philanthropist-tycoon Metrobank Group Chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty. He also stressed his advocacy in innovating health systems to provide quality health assistance to the marginalized sector.
Present during the ceremony with Dr. Ty’s family were MDH administrators led by Board Chairman and Acting President Dr. Antonio S. Abacan, Jr., and Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. President and Chief and Executive Officer Augusto P. Palisoc Jr.
The new building is expected to increase MDH’s capacity from 300 to 500 beds and will add 160 parking slots. It will also house an additional 64 doctors’ clinics, offices, and more medical, diagnostic services and specialty centers. With the completion of 18-storey medical tower, targeted in 2016, the hospital is poised to become one of leading provider of advanced but affordable healthcare services.
Manila Doctors Hospital, one of the leading centers of health and wellness in the Philippines, is a private tertiary hospital which is currently expanding its services with the construction of its new medical tower. Owned by Manila Medical Services Inc., MDH is the healthcare affiliate of Metrobank Foundation Inc, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group. MDH is an ISO 9001-2008 accredited institution and is recognized by Accreditation Canada International and is a reporting member of the United Nations Global Compact.
Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC), the first Filipino-owned hospital in United States soil, held its official grand opening on Monday, July 20, 1015. Majority owned and operated by premier health institution The Medical City (TMC), GRMC is the latest addition to TMC’s growing network of hospitals and clinics.
TMC President & CEO Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, GRMC CEO Margaret A. Bengzon, Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and Guam Governor Eddie Calvo with other GRMC officials and special guests during the Ribbon-cutting ceremony
More than 600 guests from Guam, across Micronesia and from the Philippines turned out to celebrate the opening of the first private hospital in Guam.
The 130-bed acute care facility represents an investment of $240 million by the Philippine-based TMC.
TMC President and CEO Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon and other members of TMC’s senior management graced the opening ceremony. Also present were Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and Guam Governor Eddie Calvo.
GRMC CEO Margaret A. Bengzon
During his speech, Dr. Bengzon spoke about the perseverance and faith it took them to overcome the obstacles and realize their dream to build the hospital located in Dededo, Guam. He likewise emphasized the commitment it represents to the people of Guam.
“GRMC is a gift of The Medical City and the Filipino people to the people of Guam. I encourage the residents of Guam to embrace TMC’s service philosophy of Patient Partnership, one that moved the patient from the periphery to center stage, defining for him a role as equal and empowered patient in the pursuit of his health,” said Dr. Bengzon.
For her part, GRMC CEO Margaret Bengzon welcomed the guests and thanked all the people who worked hard to make the event possible.
TMC President & CEO Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, Surgeon and GRMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael W. Cruz, and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo
“We must now look ahead and we need to get started on the real work, providing quality health care for the people of Guam,” she said.
Bordallo, on the other hand, underscored the importance of having a new hospital in Guam that will save both the financial and emotional burden of having to seek off island medical care.
In 2010, TMC announced that it would be part owner and full operator of the first private hospital in Guam. GRMC’s services will be aligned with TMC’s centers of excellence and the Region’s specific health profile, featuring wellness, cardiology, medical oncology, endocrinology, pulmonology, neurology and other medical and surgical subspecialties. TMC’s unique value proposition of patient empowerment and partnership will enliven all programs and services.
Even before the formal opening of the hospital, Guam residents have begun to experience TMC’s brand of healthcare. GRMC physicians have been seeing patients at the GRMC Specialty Care Center since September 2014.
Dr. Bengzon and Governor Calvo capped the ceremony with an impromptu rendition of "The Impossible Dream,” signifying that with GRMC now in full operations, they have reached the unreachable star.
Medical checkups address one of the New Year’s toughest challenges—maintaining your health.
After a well-earned holiday vacation filled with feasts and merrymaking, the New Year gives Filipinos the perfect opportunity to plan and reassess their health for the next 365 days. And it starts with a simple medical checkup.
“Yearly medical checkups are vital in ensuring your health and well-being,” says Sarah Gatpolintan, Wellness Center Supervisor of Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC). “Even though everything appears to be normal, you cannot take risks when it comes to your health. The only way to validate your wellness is to visit a doctor.”
Heart problems are particularly relevant for Filipinos, who typically find it difficult to resist the allure of oily and fatty foods—especially during the long Christmas break. The National Statistics Office says five of 10 deaths in the Philippines are related to cardiovascular complications, making their early detection and prevention all the more necessary.
CSMC conducts checkups for around 60-80 patients every month, and most of them have made these medical consultations a regular part of their yearly health regimens. According to Gatpolintan, these visits are comprised of comprehensive head-to-toe checkups, including blood work, urinalysis, and lipid profiling.
The wellness expert adds: “Checkups easily detect the onset of lifestyle-related diseases, like hypertension and other heart-related illnesses. For such cases, early detection can be the difference between preventing the condition and living with it for the rest of your life.”
Early detection and prevention are just some of the many benefits that regular checkups offer. Essentially, the results of a medical examination become the basis for a person’s health plans for the next year.
Find a healthy lifestyle
After the results of a checkup are finalized, a doctor evaluates them and imparts befitting lifestyle advice to the patient. For most adults, maintaining a clean bill of health can be achieved by a simple combination of regular exercise and well-balanced dieting.
“A thirty-minute walk three times a week can keep you in functional physical shape, while adding some color to your plate (fruits and vegetables) is a small adjustment that can make a big difference in living a healthier lifestyle,” explains Gatpolintan. “Of course, it is always best to consult doctors and specialists to discover specific workout programs and diet plans tailor-made for your body’s needs.”
Build a relationship with your doctor
Checkups also give patients an opportunity to build rapport with their doctors. Established relationships influence a person’s willingness to visit a physician or get a checkup regularly, and they also let doctors guide the progression of the patient’s long-term health.
“Trust is essential in building a patient’s confidence to visit a doctor,” says Gatpolintan. “Once trust is established, even the most fearful and apprehensive patients become more comfortable with the process and they begin consistently scheduling appointments on their own.”
Design a blueprint for your health
Typically, personal resolutions for the next 12 months focus on working harder or traveling more; but ensuring one’s health and well-being is a prerequisite to fulfilling these aspirations.
“Certifying your health for the next year is a worthwhile investment and it only takes a few hours,” says Gatpolintan. “Learning about your health today lets you know the medical risks you might face tomorrow—and this goes a long way in securing your health and wellness.”
About Cardinal Santos Medical Center
CSMC is a leading hospital in the Philippines, and is most known for its expertise in Neurosurgery, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Care, Minimally Invasive Surgery, as well as Rehabilitation Medicine.
Instituted in 1974, CSMC prides itself in delivering excellent, personalized healthcare to its patients. Throughout its decades of service, the hospital has been characterized by passion, commitment, and professionalism, which are directed towards providing the best experience for its patients and guests. At CSMC, the organizational framework is built on trust, leadership, loyalty, and teamwork.
The 235-bed tertiary hospital is also a proven training facility for aspiring doctors and healthcare practitioners in the country.
Cardinal Santos Medical Center is managed by Colinas Verdes Hospital Managers Corporation (CVHMC) under Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), its sister companies include Smart Communications, PLDT, Meralco, Maynilad Water Services, Manila North Tollway, and ABC/TV5 Network.
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