COVID-19
COVID-19: fighting with innovation The Philippines has been hard hit by COVID-19. A stringent community quarantine from mid-March to May was followed by a gradual opening-up of the economy. July brought an alarming spike in cases, prompting the medical experts to call for restrictive measures. Another partial lockdown was ordered in August and the country is still fighting to flatten the curve.
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he healthcare sector is facing enormous challenges during the ongoing pandemic. Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. (“MPHHI”) has been at the forefront of the government’s efforts. Three of MPHHI’s 17 hospitals are designated for COVID-19 patients and are adding more beds. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, one of MPHHI’s designated COVID-19 referral facilities, is a prime example. To accommodate the increasing number of COVID patients
in the 230-bed hospital, it has opened multiple wards to separate patients of different symptom profiles, and to accommodate more patients. In addition to wards for COVIDconfirmed, probable and suspect cases, there are separate wards for healthcare professionals and healthcare workers. Under the new normal, MPHHI member hospitals are strictly implementing and continuously improving patient care processes.
They have put in place infrastructure improvements for zoning, and enhanced infection prevention controls. They conduct periodic testing of frontliners and contact tracing and quarantine procedures when health workers develop symptoms. In July 2020, the Metro Pacific Hospitals COVID Crisis Management Team initiated free webinars for the medical profession. These share knowledge about hospital safety in the new normal. Presidents of facilities and Head Doctors shared best practices in infection control, protocols and engineering interventions. Another topic was Transforming Healthcare Service Delivery Platforms and Business Processes to Create a Safer Hospital Environment. METRO PACIFIC HOSPITALS EXPLORE TELEMEDICINE SOLUTIONS The group is fighting COVID-19 with innovation. It has introduced virtual consultation, as well as other services like e-pharmacy, mobile laboratories, remote patient monitoring and continuity of care beyond the hospital room. Telemedicine was previously viewed as a means to provide health care THE VIEW 11
