VSMMC passed ISO audit

CEBU, Philippines - Just as the hospital is facing allegations that a newborn baby was accidentally dropped by attending medical personnel inside the delivery room Wednesday afternoon, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center has passed the ISO certification audit.

The second level audit was conducted September 10 to 12. The result was released Friday.

The International Organization for Standardization rates excellence in service and ISO 9001:2008 certification means the institution has an institutionalized Quality Management System.

The first audit passing mark was earned by the government-run hospital in May this year.

VSMMC has a daily census of over 1,000, a little over than its 800 actual bed capacity.

Dr. Al Alesna, Office of Special Concerns chief, said the hospital aims to finally upgrade its physical components to reach 1,000 but cautioned a “little inconvenience” especially at the construction period.

A facility tour for media practitioners will be done in the third week of September, in time for the Medicine Week.

The Department of Health has earned a similar certification in 2013 and has maintained this status until now.

ISO 9001 registration has awarded its first certification to a hospital in 1996, after a third party approval and audit. (FREEMAN)