Quality care expected with VSMMC makeover
The high cost of services in private hospitals forced 42-year-old Talisay City resident Suzette Penales to seek dialysis treatment in government-run hospitals.
“If I had the money of course I’d opt for private hospital treatment because you’re well-attended. There is always a doctor unlike in public hospitals where the doctor only comes when somebody wants to see him,” Penales told Cebu Daily News.
Penales has been undergoing renal dialysis at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for two years now. While the service isn’t satisfactory, Penales could not afford to pay more.
But quality management in the hospital may soon improve.
VSMMC officials yesterday said they would target International Organization of Standardization (ISO) accreditation within this year.
Standards
“We’re moving towards that. This is for us to improve our services and be at par with private and international institutions,” VSMMC chief of Special Concerns Dr. Joseph Alesna said.
Alesna said the VSMMC’s executive committee identified the ISO 9001:2008 standards as one of their priorities this year.
An organization that’s ISO accredited means it has instituted an effective quality assurance system that conforms with international established standards of services and products.
For VSMMC to be ISO accredited, Dr. Alesna said, means it “needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently meet” patient requirements and continually improve on its health care system in “accordance with patient and regulatory requirements.”
Dr. Alesna said the VSMMC has adopted a corporate structure since 2006 in which an executive committee composed of the hospital chief and six other department heads, including himself, will decide on matters involving the hospital.
Advantageous
“It’s not like before wherein only the chief of hospital decides,” he said.
Dr. Alesna said the corporatization of VSMMC isn’t a bad idea because it would mean the creation of a board of trustees composed of stakeholders.
“Corporatization will actually be advantageous because we will now have connections to different stakeholders to help us decide,” he said.
Dr. Alesna said the welfare of indigent patients will remain due to PhilHealth coverage.
The 800-bed capacity hospital is currently servicing 1,000 patients. Alesna said everyone is properly accommodated unlike before.
The VSMMC recently opened their pediatric pavilion, Philhealth ward and two new wings to cater to indigent patients.
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