Not just one but three

Sometime last year, Mayor Jonas C. Cortes was awarded the Plaque of Appreciation by Philhealth through its Vice-President for Central Visayas, William Chavez, for “enrolling 25,000 indigent families” with Philhealth.

 This year, no less than two more honors have been awarded by Philhealth to the Mandaue City Hospital (MCH) under the able management of Dr. Oscar E. Quirante, Chief of Hospital. First of the two occurred on January 12, 2011 when Philhealth recognized the MCH with a certification declaring the hospital as a “Center of Safety.” Obviously, this honor proves that the MCH services are “safe, efficient, and a haven of quality output and, the services (are) beneficial to both Philhealth members and dependents,” so the Philhealth stated.

 The third honor, which is more deeply gratifying, is the recent recognition of Dr. Quirante’s leadership. On May 23, 2011, the Philhealth awarded the Certificate of Accreditation as a “Center of Quality” by operating officer Dr. Rey Aquino, to the MCH. This award is of latest vintage for passing the standards of Philhealth upon evaluation of the “patient’s rights, safe practice, patient care, information management, leadership and management.”

 Small public hospitals nationwide of 25-bed up to 50-bed capacity have vied for such honors from Philhealth. Getting two awards in the same year as “Center of Safety” and “Center of Quality” is a singular feat not many small hospitals deserve. For tertiary hospitals, the highest award is the Certification of “Excellence,” with three awardees in Cebu City.

 The MCH caters not only to the medical/surgical needs of Mandaue residents, but also of Lapulapu City, Consolacion, and Liloan patients. While it’s still a 25-bed capacity, because of unavoidable exigencies the MCH has served as a 50-bed capacity.

 The core staff of MCH with Dr. Oscar E. Quirante as Chief of Hospital comprises, thus: Mrs. Helen Retuya as Administrator; Dr. Marilou Espinosa as Medcial Officer V; Nursing Service and Mrs. Elizabeth Ceniza as Chief Nurse. As regards the surgical services, especially in emergency cases, with no in-house surgeons, many doctors/specialists are on call on 24-hour skeds on rotation. A number of nurses and nursing students from 11 affiliated nursing schools, plus volunteer nurses complement the nursing services.

 Sometime ago, one had a candid talk with Dr. Quirante, if he still recalls, with regard to the common problem that besets a small government hospital. Among others, Dr. Quirante confessed that government bureaucracy, particularly in obtaining and renewing periodic cash advances posed the big problem. It used to be not easy or fast to liquidate the cash advances in minutest detail, especially in expenses without official receipts involving food items, medical items, and others. Presently though, the problem has been solved.

 Fortunately, the long-standing need for repairs and similar works in some sections of the hospital complex has been addressed and, in fact, such repairs are still ongoing.

It’s worth mentioning and without crowing to the wind, that the MCH despite its limitations, mostly answer the medical needs of the patients, both out-patients and in-patients of Mandaue’s poor clientele. Major cases and those involving affluent in-patients have to be referred to much bigger hospitals. But among the 25-bed and 50-bed government district hospitals that are inadequate in supplies, equipment, and qualified doctors and personnel, and whose only recourse is to refer to bigger hospitals, does not include the Mandaue City Hospital.

 With the concern and solicitude of the present Mandaue City administration over the limitations of the MCH like, its ambulance to be always on tip-top shape, further improvement of its facilities and accommodations, its incinerator in efficient condition, and its medical and other supplies available, etc., the “Center of Quality” status can be maintained.