DLSU Medical Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite upgrades facility

MANILA, Philippines -  In the Philippines, where heart disease is one of the leading causes of deaths among Filipinos, many patients still cannot afford the cost of proper diagnosis and treatment for such illnesses.

Thus, when De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC)  in Dasmariñas city, Cavite, purchased and installed its General Electric (GE) Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) in March 2013,  patients traveled from Cavite and nearby areas like Laguna and even Metro Manila to seek out the services and expertise of the institution for its coronary angiography services. DLSUMC is currently the only hospital in the province to have an operational Cardiac Cath Lab. 

“Another feature that makes us stand out among others in the province is that we’re the only institution in Cavite that has a complete line of specialty and sub-specialty physicians in each department,” says Dr. Roehl Cabujat, interventional cardiologist.

The innovative Cath Lab solution is  part of GE’s Healthymagination strategy aimed at introducing innovative solutions for patients to have improved access to high-quality, affordable healthcare technology.  It is equipped with fluoroscopy and digital subtraction, enabling doctors to detect  irregularities  and make better clinical decisions. 

“Fluoroscopy can be likened to a video that presents continuous and real-time images of the heart’s blood supply. You can use it to identify the location and degree of obstruction,” says Dr. Jose Tirona, head of the Heart Institute Invasive Unit.

Ivan Arota, GE Healthcare country manager, says,  “We at GE endeavor to bring to the local market the latest and most efficient healthcare innovations that will help doctors in the way they diagnose and treat their patients.  We are proud to collaborate with DLSUMC in their mission of saving lives and being of service to the community.”

Recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in 2010, DLSUMC was the first hospital to be awarded ISO certification in 1999, which accredited the hospital’s Quality Management System and has consistently passed the re-certification audits according to the standards set by a network of institutions from 157 countries. This means that its patients can be assured that DSLUMC is continuously striving for quality, safety, and reliability in the medical care provided by the hospital and its staff.   To “nurture your health” is what the hospital aims with every case and with every patient who seeks treatment in the hospital.

With 250 rooms and 320 doctors, DLSUMC is the biggest tertiary hospital in Cavite and continues to expand as it improves patient service by making well-placed investments on advanced medical technology.  The hospital is likewise opening its doors to foreign residents who wish to have their residency program at DLSUMC.

Aside from the quality of its healthcare services, DLSUMC is proud of the expertise and commitment of its doctors who are mostly alumni of the hospital’s academic division, the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI).  “Since they studied here and are part of the De La Salle family, they have the heart and the compassion for patients, the time and dedication to form a special relationship with their alma mater,” explains Dr. Noriel Martija, director of special services.

At the moment, DLSUMC is focused on improving, adding, and upgrading its facilities to accommodate the increasing number of patients. The hospital served more than 317,000 patients in 2013. “We want to serve as many people as possible, especially the less fortunate,” according to Sr. Francesca San Diego, SPC, MAN, MHA, vice chancellor, hospital operations.  

Part of its expansion plan is the ongoing construction of the Medical Arts Center that will  provide a one-stop shop for patients with doctors’ clinics and additional medical services. The hospital is also planning to purchase new machines for its proposed Neuro-Science Center to be completed in 2015.