Two public regional Level 3 hospitals were honored with Trailblazer Awards for their outstanding governance practices during a public revalida on October 9 and 11, 2024, respectively, with the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA).
The Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) was awarded the Silver Trailblazer Award, while the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) received the Gold Trailblazer Award, as both institutions achieved Compliant Status under ISA’s Performance Governance System (PGS).
The Public Revalida is a democratic exercise that validates a public institution’s completion of the four stages of the PGS. Enrolled institutions include the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Health (DOH), among others.
CVMC, originally established in 1945 as the 43rd Field Hospital by the 37th Infantry after World War II, embarked on ISA’s governance pathway in 2019, achieving Initiation Status—the first of the four PGS stages. Meanwhile, WVMC, founded as the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in 1974, has grown to serve over four million people across Region VI with a wide range of specialized medical services and entered ISA’s governance pathway in 2022.
Positioning itself as a 1,000-bed tertiary hospital with regional specialty centers by 2025, CVMC has successfully established five out of 14 planned specialty centers, achieving full operational status according to the DOH. Among these are the Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine and the Lung Care Center.
Recognizing that lung-related diseases rank among the top 10 causes of morbidity and mortality in the country, CVMC has enhanced its pulmonary services through its Lung Care Center, which now features advanced diagnostic tools, including Pulmonary Function Testing. This development has significantly improved the hospital’s capacity for early diagnosis and effective treatment of respiratory conditions, leading to transformative patient care outcomes.
“Over the past year, this procedure has benefited 194 patients,” said CVMC Medical Center Chief, Dr. Cherry Lou M. Antonio, during her revalida presentation. “The Pulmonary Unit, as part of the Lung Care Center, aims to become a premier facility in the region, offering world-class diagnostic services and leading-edge care in Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine.”
To improve healthcare delivery and coordination, the medical center, in line with the Universal Health Care initiative, has also created a healthcare provider network (HCPN) in partnership with municipal and provincial health officers, private hospitals, and its Multi-sectoral Governance Council (MSGC), a group of external stakeholders created as advised by ISA to help the public institution pursue its reform agenda. An Emergency Department navigation and referral system has also been developed, which has led to a rise in well-coordinated patient referrals and reduced the time it takes for patients to be admitted.
Meanwhile, positioning itself to expand by 700 beds and introduce three Advanced Care Centers (ACC) by 2025, WVMC has already established five fully operational specialty centers: Cardiovascular, Lung, Mental Health, Neonatal, and Cancer. Additionally, as the only hospital offering accredited Ophthalmology and ENT Residency Training Programs in the entire Western Visayas, WVMC takes pride in its Eye Care Center, which has now achieved full functionality as an ACC.
“The Eye Center was able to expand its outpatient services, having catered to 13,921 patients in the first semester of this year, a 50% increase compared to the same period of CY 2023,” said WVMC Medical Center Chief, Dr. Joseph Dean L. Nicolo, during his revalida presentation. “Its roster of experts includes 13 subspecialists performing highly technical procedures [including an Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy], a first in the region and a National Specialty Center requirement.”
To expedite and ensure seamless referrals, WVMC also developed the Electronic Patient Advance Service Access (e-PASA) system, which allows for the rapid transmission of assessments and diagnostic results.
“All these were possible due to the establishment of the Multi-sector Governance Council where all provincial health offices were engaged as part of the linkages deliverables,” Dr. Nicolo said.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Antonio expressed her team’s dedication to improving healthcare and making medical services more reachable and affordable while maintaining high standards.
“As we go forward, we will double our efforts to provide accessible, affordable, specialized, high-quality healthcare to all by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and leveraging technology. We will ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of healthier Philippines,” Dr. Antonio said, as she received the Silver Trailblazer Award.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nicolo emphasized the need to push beyond current challenges to enhance service quality and reaffirm WVMC’s dedication to healing and compassionate care.
”This Gold Trailblazer Award is another milestone toward our position. Let this push us to Proficiency, surpassing our limitations and challenges, to serve better, strive longer, and lift higher with our hearts engraved to who we are,” the medical center chief said. “We are trained to cure and we shall remain committed to care.”
