The primary hospital ... upgrade to Level 1 category in order.
By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ
THE Jose Panganiban Primary Hospital Services Cooperative (JPPHSC)
is gearing up to boost its internal strength and meet the challenges of a Level
1 category hospital the cooperative expects to achieve next year.
The co-op said during the last general meeting in March that it
has programmed a number of initiatives that would boost its strength as a
cooperative health service
.
JPPHSC said it is now in the process of building the second
floor of the hospital at a cost of Php1.5 million to earn the Level 1 grade and
operate various medical services.
Priscilla G Mariano, chairman of the board, said during the
general assembly meeting early this year that JPPHSC should be able to upgrade
to Level 1 by 2015 to be able to expand services as called for under new rules
set by the Department of Health (DOH), which categorizes health care services
in the country.
At present, the JPPHS falls under the category of “other health
facilities”, and not a full hospital.
Mariano said as a Level 1 hospital, which JPPHS hopes to
achieve in 2015, it can do consultation, be specialist in medicine, pediatrics,
OB-Gyne, surgery, emergency and out-patient services.
It will also operate emergency and out patient services,
isolation facilities, surgical and maternity facilities, dental clinic,
secondary laboratory, blood station (blood bank), first level
X-ray services and pharmacy.
Mariano said should JPPHSC fail to hit this target, the co-op
would remain just an ordinary primary hospital facility and lose at least 30%
of benefits from PhilHealth according to the number of patients it had served.
She said the JPPHSC can not afford to remain just a primary
health care facility amid the growing number of people in Mambulao needing
improved services.
To boost its capacity, the co-op will work to increase its
membership by at least 20% this year, or 73 new members, through recruitment
from the baranggays, recruitment of patients and those who had patronized its
services.
At the end of last year, the co-op had 627 members and 40
regular staff headed by the medical director.
The co-op said it would give incentives to staff, officers
and members for every recruit they bring in.
As part of its capacity building, JPPHSC will hold two
post-membership education seminars and one ownership training session during
the year involving the members of the education committee and the board of
directors.
The co-op will also hold monthly meetings during the year,
and quarterly meeting for the staff and other committees.
To upgrade the skills of its staff and officers, an in-house
training will be held year-round.
Concerned staff will be sent to relevant trainings sponsored
by private groups and government health agencies.
The co-op has lined up yearly upgrades in the salaries, wages
and incentives of its staff and honorarium of the board members and officers.
Mariano said that such would depend on the availability of
funds.
This year, the co-op expects to hire another female doctor
specializing the pediatrics.
Last May, JPPHSC achieved its targeted capital build-up (CBU)
of to Php15 million from the Php10 million it had at the end of last year.
Besides the planned second floor facilities, the co-op has
raised at least Php5 million to upgraded its physical plan under Administrative
Order 2012 of the Department of Health.
It has also launched a drive to seek financial assistance
from civic groups, non-government organizations and government organizations.
The co-op recently reported the acquisition of X-ray and
other facilities as part of its expanded services.
With all this, the co-op expects improved services to the
client-patients of the health facility.
For comment, email: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg
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