AVALANCHE OF INTEREST : MARATHON DIALOGUE, REGION 3 PHA CONFERENCE

If the volume of text reservations and inquiries were to be used as gauge by the Philippine Hospital Association, the upcoming Regional Conference at the Holiday Inn Hotel at Clark,Angeles City for Regional 3 members of the organization will be an SRO.

For those interested in acquiring more information about the event, herewith is a copy of the program:

The PHA 2012 BOARD AND OFFICERS shall be trooping in full force to Angeles City on February 26, 2012 for the PHA Region 3 Conference and Marathon Dialogue.  PHA President Atty. Bu Castro, M.D. leads the group and intends this conference to be a fruitful interaction amongst the stakeholders. As can be gleamed from the program and the array of resource personalities, it is his hope and prayer that appropriate information contributory to the resolution of problems and difficulties encountered by all parties shall be brought up.

For more details, interested parties may text the Executive Officer, Mac Caliwara at mobile number +639178511500 or email him at executive.officer@pha.ph.

President Bu CAstro intends to folow the same format in the succeding Regional Conference for Region 12 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on March 25, 2012.

OCT. 23, 2011-PHA’s ENDS ITS SERIES OF REG’L CONFERENCES FOR 2011 IN TAGAYTAY CITY.

Region IV A/B and NCR Regional Conference. The fine Sunday weather last October 23, 2011 saw some 200 representatives of member hospitals of the PHILIPPINE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION troop to the “country’s 2^nd Summer Capital”. It had been the last of the 2011 Series of Regional Conferences of the organization.

PHIC President Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon. The PHA had the distinct pleasure of welcoming the newly - installed Philippine Health Insurance Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eduardo Banzon, MSc, as its guest speaker. His appointment was announced by DOH Secretary Ona during the flag ceremony held at the PHIC grounds in Pasig City last October 17, 2011, barely 5 days before the PHA Regional Conference. Dr. Banzon used to be Philhealth’s Vice President for Health Finance Policy Service but left the agency to join the World Bank.

Highlights of Dr. Banzon’s speech .

Dr. Eduardo Banzon expressed his desire to push for the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage for all Filipinos’ program of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

He stated further that the protection extended by the government should be substantial enough and that there is a need to deepen the health coverage of Filipinos.

His speech centered on several premises for Universal Health Coverage:

1. More money for health.

a. To be able to extend wider benefits, funds should be made available

b. Consider increase in premiums to be able to sustain UHC

2. Use of the funds more on the demand side of the economic chart towards basic health insurance

a. Spending more money for more hospitals and doctors is no longer the typical and model response

b. Filipinos’ access to healthcare should be supported by health insurance; healthcare becomes free only because people have health insurance; insurance imbues people with right to health.

3. Primary Care Case Gate Keeping Approach.

a. It is not sustainable to have a free market (charge patients any amount hospitals and doctors want)

b. Case payment is part of the approach

c. Push for all rates to be case payment

d. Ensure that amount is fair

e. Hospitals should coordinate and assert itself to doctors who practice in their establishments

f. Employ incentives such as or maybe : high rates for Centers of Excellence, availability of specialized diagnostic equipment, highly skilled/trained doctors, hospitals located in remote and areas of conflict or great difficulties, etc.

4.  Case payment.

a.  It will come.

b.  It cannot just be imposed however on the private sector; a contracted negotiation is necessary

c.  Case payment can be viewed as a powerful marketing tool for hospitals

d.  Rates should be studied well and discussed thoroughly; consultations.

Other matters covered by Dr. Banzon were:

1.      Change is necessary and that it shall be driven by technology.

2.      Electronic filings, on line inquiries, computers and connectivity at all hospitals as part of accreditation

3.      Educate PHIC members how to navigate their health insurance

4.      Work closely with HMOs as supplementary/complementary partners

5.      Come up with a good dbase where list of members shall be complete down to their dependents

6.      Hospitals and Doctrors as necessary part of insurance

7.      Expect a differentiated approach where the “good guys” shall have an easy time while the “bad guys” will have to watch out.

He ended his speech with a call for dialogue between professionals and urged everyone to TRUST and WORK with PHIC.

His speech was received with a resounding applause from the audience.

Recap of the PHA  Conferences for 2011.

To recap, conferences for the different regions starting in February, 2011 were held in major cities:

Regn 3 Angeles City-Feb. 27,

Regn 7 & 8 Cebu City-March 27,

Regns 1, 2 & CAR Baguio City-April 17,

Regn 11, 12 & ARMM Davao City-May 29,

Reg 5 Legazpi City-June 26,

View of the majrestic Mayon Volcano from the airport tarmac

PHA BODs Dr. Maano , Dr. Salud and Dr. Ante taking a breather
the night before the Regional Conference in Legazpi

Mayor of Legazpi addressing the general membership

Regn 6 & Panay Islands Group Iloilo City-Aug 21,

Honorable Arthur Defensor , Governor of Iloilo
 addressing the general membership

Regns 9, 10 & CARAGA Cagayan de Oro City-Sept. 25,

Deputy Speaker Hon. Erin Tanada addressing the general membership

PHA President Ruben Flores giving his report to the general membership

Dondie Aranda of Isuzu Phil. Corp. who donated a
Samsung Mini Tablet as raffle prize

and Regns IV-A/B & NCR Tagaytay City-Oct 23.

Conferences' mainstay partner UNILAB's Ed Kanapi, Dr. Ruben Flores, Dr. Janet Tan

Winner of the Isuzu sponsored raffle prize, a 32" Sony
Bravia LCD TV, Jayanne May Esperacion of the
Vian Family Hospital

Isuzu's Prototype Ambulance

posing besides the Congratulatory greetings
for Dr. Ruben Flores as Asian Hospital Federation's
Presidentelect for 2012-2913
President for 2014-2015

 The Annual National Convention and Exhibits shall be the culminating activity and will be held on November 23-25, 2011 at the Manila Hotel.

The foregoing reflects part of the busy schedules of the National Board as well as the respective PHA Provincial Councils.  This is not to mention the multitude activities (symposium, seminars, trainings, speaking engagements, resource speaker, moderator, reactor, etc.)  that the various Directors and designated members have attended carrying the name of the PHA.

PHA Directors and Officers
Front Row L to R:  Dr. Janet del Mundo-Tan-Chief of Hospital, Ospital Ng Maynila Medical Center and PHA Secretary, Dr. Ruben Flores-Medical Center Chief II, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and PHA President, Dr. Concepcion Lim-Medical Director, Leona Lim Memorial Hospital and PHA VP-Vizayas, Dr. Winifreda Cagulada-Chief of Hospital, Teodoro Galagar District Hospital
Back: Dr. Edgardo Salud-Hospital Director, Quezon City General Hospital and PHA Treasurer, Dr. Conrado Brana, Jr.-Chief of Hospital, South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, Dr./Atty. Bu Castro-Official Representative of Bernardino General Hospital and PHA PRO, Dr. Hermogenes Jarin-Medical Director, Fairview General Hospital and PHA VP-Luzon, Dr. Jesus Jardin-Medical Director, Capitol University Medical City and PHA VP-Mindanao, Dr. Rodolfo Ante, Medical Director, Sta. Teresita Hospital, Dr. Romeo Maano-Medical Director, United Candelaria Doctors Hospital

Support of the various PHA Councils, DOH, PHIC as well as its mainstay partner for Regional Conferences, UNILAB,  has been invaluable. Participations of Healthsolutions Inc., BPI Leasing, Comlogik , Isuzu Philippines Corporation and their attractive raffle prizes during some of the Regional Conferences have provided spices and added flavors to the events.

Election of the new Board beckons come November 24, 2011.  PHA members, we know you will exercise your right to vote and will choose wisely.

ELECTION FEVER IS ABOUT TO GRIP ANEW THE PHILIPPINE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. 1st of a Series.

With the kind indulgence of non-Philippine Hospital Association members, this post is made at the behest of the PHA COMELEC.  It is dedicated to the upcoming annual electoral exercise of the organization. Past elections proved to be filled with excitement and controversies that Some might actually find the series of articles that will focus on the PHA Electoral Process a good read. 

ELECTION RULES for the Year 2011 which

will lead to the selection of its new set of

leaders.  The dynamism in an organization in

most part is dependent on its leadership. The

Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) at about

this time of the year, is teeming with

anticipation on the PHA Election Rules

package that were released for distribution to

the general membership on August 23, 2011. 

They consist of the following:

1.     Advisory of the PHA Comelec Chairman (text below)
2.     The 7-page Election Rules for 2011 (text below)
3.     Authorization Form for Gov’t Hospitals of its Designated Rep
4.     Authrzn Form for Private-Partnership of its Designated Rep
5.     Authrzn Form for Private-Designated Rep Single Proprietor 
6.     Authorization Form for Private-Corp of its Designated Rep
7.     Nomination Form
8.     Acceptance of Nomination Form

(You may click on the  links above to download the appropriate forms)

The Election:

-Where:  Manila Hotel Luneta Park

-When:   November 24, 2011, commencing at 8am & ending at 4pm.

For the last two years, registrations and elections at the PHA have been Computer Assisted :

-delegates qualified to participate in the poll exercise, cast their votes through a computer terminal.

-pictures of the qualified candidates are flashed on the monitor and choices are made by ticking on the voter’s choice among the candidates.

-At the end of the day, when the voting had been closed, the votes are electronically tallied and the results are known within minutes from the close of the balloting.

This is in contrast to the old system whereby

counting took the PHA Comelec up to past

midnight, in the presence of the

representatives of the various candidates.


PHA beat by about half a year  the PCOS

electronic voting/counting machines used in

the 2011 National Election by the National

government.

After the tally, the COMELEC Chairman

announces  the results to the candidate who waited

anxiously.

The winners or the new Board immediately

convenes and meet in a room within the hotel that

as reserved by the COMELEC .  The Board then

hold their own election of President, VP-Luzon,

VP Vizayas , VP Mindanao , Treasurer, Secretary

and PRO.

After this organizational meeting, the December

Board Meeting is then scheduled that serves as the

Planning Meeting for the incoming year as well as

the group’s Christmas Party.

The PHA election is always full of excitement,

from the nominating period and campaigning to

the winners’ installation and announcement of the

new set of Board and Officers the following day

before the general assembly.

For the advanced information of its PHA members,

all the necessary and related documents on the

PHA Elections are included in this post.


Higlighting the schedules, they are as follows:

August 23 , 2011		COMELEC Advisory on the PHA Election by snail mail, by email, by text messaging, by posts in the website (http://pha.ph), blogsite (http://www.phablog-recorder.blogspot.com, Facebook (philhospitalassn@yahoo.com), Twitter (@PHA1949).  Forms are likewise made available with the Advisory.
Sept.20,2011		Deadline for submission of Nominations.
Sept. 22, 2011		All nominations are sent out by PHA Secretariat to the nominees
October 7, 2011		Deadline for Acceptance of Nominations and submission/completion  of requirements
October 7, 2011		COMELEC meets to evaluate nominations and finalize the list of OFFICIAL CANDIDATES
October 8		List of Official Candidates are released with direct and formal advice to the candidates concerned
October 12-November 24		Campaign period
November 23, 2011		Comelec attends the final Board Meeting of the old Board and reports with updates on the Election to be held the following day.
November 24, 2011		Election day, with casting of ballots commencing at 8am and ending at 4pm.

The PHA COMELEC encourages all its members to actively participate in the nomination and electoral process as an exercise of their rights and show of concern for the organization in an atmosphere of constructive dynamism. 

Hospitals as Schools Partners in Mental Health Service Provision

This is a guest post by Prof. Jerome Babate , Chairman of the Board of the RO DIAGAN Cooperative Hospital in General Santos City.

There is a little shift of my focus this time as this is largely intrigued by a host of problems encountered by our schools on health aspects (food poisoning, malnourishment, among others). The nurse in my persona prodded me to look into school issues from the lens of a health care consultant. 

Personally, I recognize that school success is facilitated by factors in students' lives such as psychological health, supportive social relationships, positive health behaviors, and schools free of violence and drugs. Accordingly, mental or psychological health in childhood and adolescence is defined by the achievement of expected developmental cognitive, social, and emotional milestones. Mental health leads to the student's developing satisfying social relationships, and demonstrating effective coping skills. Let us remember that mentally healthy children and adolescents enjoy a positive quality of life; function well at home, in school, and in their communities. Reads interesting and idealistic!

However, to attain such state, we need a collaborative and coordinated effort among schools, families, and communities to ensure that all children and adolescents achieve positive academic and behavioral outcomes.

One of the most important of these positive outcomes is psychological competence, a set of skills and attitudes that leads to positive mental health and a strong sense of well-being.To that end, I advocate the inclusion of comprehensive mental health services in the schools, emphasizing prevention and early intervention.

Having mentioned earlier, schools are the logical point of entry to develop the efficacy of mental health services to children and adolescents. As a suggestion, our schools in the urban areas may partner with our hospitals (its one way of developing the latter's corporate social responsibility) to craft mental health services for children. School-based and school-linked services can be designed to address students' mental health needs using a range of service options ranging from prevention to intensive intervention.  The key to making mental health services effective is to ensure that they are accessible to students and families

“Leaders” in the Health Sector Member Agencies Answer Call for Unity In Responding to Emergencies and Disaster.

Representatives of the 14 Signatory Agencies and Organizations
together with the Department of Health Officials

A multi-sectoral Memorandum of Agreement signing was held at the Heritage Hotel at noontime of July 20, 2011 where each signatory pledged their respective support and cooperation in responding in unity to  emergencies and disasters. They affirmed that their commitment to coordinate will not be driven by necessity but more of an obligation to society. It was well attended by about 300 representatives of various agencies and sub-agencies under them.

Signatories to the MOA were heads of the different agencies and organizations:  the DOH, Phil. Hosp Assn,  DILG, DND, DSWD, DOJ, DOTC, DepED, UP Manila, PRC, Phil Medical Assn, PNA, PLGPMI and PSSEI.

USEC Teodoro Herbosa of the DOH congratulated everyone on their efforts and resolve to be solid in their support for this initiative in disaster containment in order to save lives.  He also said that this is very timely especially that the month of July is declared DISASTER CONCIOUSNESS MONTH by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council with its theme of “MAKIALAM, MAKIISA SA PAGSUGPO NG PANGANIB MAY MAITUTULONG KA”.

The intentions and objectives of this initiative are good but only if proper mechanisms are put into place and followed through. On the part of the Philippine Hospital Association,  President Ruben C. Flores said that it shall coordinate closely with the Department of Health and set forth on a campaign of information dissemination with its over 1,800 hospital members to lay down the expectations from all of them in the events of emergencies and disasters.  The PHA will utilize its networking capabilities and membership with the International Hospital Federation and the Asian Hospital Federation in gaining additional valuable knowledge on their own effective practices in preparing and responding to emergencies and disasters.  It is expected that IHF and AHF members with first hand experiences in major disasters in their respective countries will be able to give valuable contributions in this regard.



The Two Presidents:
Left:  Dr. Ruben Flores-Philippine Hospital Association
Dr. Oscar Tinio-Philippine Medical Association



The Philippine Hospital Association’s Experience With Two Infinity Signs That Have Metamorphosed Into a Butterfly

It was July 17, 2011,  Sunday and a fine day it was, when the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA President Ruben C. Flores, PHA Treasurer Edgardo Salud and PHA E.O. Mac Caliwara), landed at the Cauayan Airport in Isabela at a few minutes before 10am, some 25 minutes ahead of schedule.  Private security guards were on hand to guide the passengers through the designated path that will keep them at a safe distance from the propellers of the plane.  In Manila, much attention was given to the weight load that goes unto the plane, where all hand carried luggages were weighed and added up.  Ladies who were secretive of their weights, had no choice but to comply with the body weighing requirements of the airline. The measures, as explained by the groud staff, were resorted to for “purposes of having a correct balance” in the plane.  Even the manner of alighting from the plane after landing were also done by rows , again, purportedly to maintain proper balance, even when the plane had already been secured and parked. At the Cauayan airport 3 army personnel in fatigue uniforms and their Armalite rifles were stationed at the arrival area with the intention of being seen by everybody as if to say, “you’re in safe hands” even if it did conjure an image of terrorists's attack. Too much movies! A mother posing for photo at the tarmac with child in tow was hurriedly asked by the airport security to clear the area and to move on towards the arrival area. Not tourist friendly, one would think.

The travel by land from Cauayan airport to Santiago took about 30 minutes. The group made a short stop to a supposedly tourist destination (google it) Balingtokatok, Chapel of the Transfiguration and Last Supper but that's another story. The place needs more TLC.

Back to tne hospital story.

What could have prodded the group to go away from the comforts of their homes on a Sunday knowing they need to be back to their respective offices by the first hour of the following day, one may ask? The answers are two folds:  call of duty and  reciprocation.

Call of duty, since as leaders of the organization of hospitals, they are guided by its mission to L.E.A.P., i.e. Lead, Enable, Assist and Protect hospitals towards quality service. The Flores Memorial Medical Center, founded in 1950, celebrates its 60^th year and have extended its invitation to all its friends to attend the inauguration of its new wing. PHA , in its roster of members, have 42 member hospitals in the province of Isabela with 12 belonging to the government and 30 private hospitals. In Santiago City, there are 7 hospital members with 1 from the government and 6 private.

Reciprocation, since there was a time when “Papa Doc” as Dr. Adolfo Flores⁺ (1916-2007) was fondly called, never missed any of the events of the organization.  He was a regular fixture in the PHA scene. 

He was sometimes accompanied by his wife, Dr. Natividad “Mama Doc” Sevilla Flores⁺ (1918-2004).

One of the 11 children of Papa and Mama Doc , Dr. Arturo S. Flores , plays a major role in the operation of the hospital. He is ably assisted by his CPA sister, Sita Coseng, who acts as Administrator. The warmth of their reception for the group added to the excitement of us lowlanders who were profusely perspiring by us lowlprofuse being not accustomed to the high temperature in the region.  We were awed at improvements and facilities of the new wing and on the narrations of Dr. Art about the master plan for the one block property where the hospital is situated. He still have a half block to work on, which he said he is hoping to become a reality in his lifetime.  The hospital's corridors at 2.4meters were wide enough to accommodate two stretchers going in the opposite directions.  An automatic sprinkler system was very evident.  All rooms were equipped with ultra slim LED TVs that were hooked on the wall facing the patient's brand new multi-adjustable hospital beds.  there is  hot water available supplied by a water tank at the roof top  hooked up to solar panels.  CCCTV system pointing to strategic locations of the hospital , including offices , are also in place and can be monitored remotely by management via internet. The database can also be accessed remotely which gives management up to date information about the hospital transactions.

From it's humble beginning as the Flores Clinic in 1950, with tender loving care (TLC) the institution has survived the test of time.

 "Like a butterfly that has undergone metamorphosis from a larvae" it now spreads its wings and is now called the FLORES MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER. The hospital's logo, as patiently explained by Dr. Art, are actually two infinity signs brought together to form an image of a butterfly. It symbolizes change, rebirth and a new beginning.


The much awaited ribbon cutting, led by Dr. Art and Sis Sita, assisted by PHA President Dr. Ruben Flores, Congressman Gigi Aggabao and Mayor Amelita Navarro, commenced at 5pm.

Dr. Art Flores showing the way in cutting the ribbon

Dr. Flores huddles with Cong. Gigi Aggabao and Mayor Amelita Navarro

 It was followed by a program and sumptous dinner at the hospital's garden that has as center piece, a rainwater cistern with a beautiful roman fountain on top of it. 

The PHA group was happy to have touched based with Dr. Jun Costales, Chief Of Hospital of the Southern Isabela General (District) Hospital, Dra. Inesita Javonillo of the Javonillo Hospital in Cordon Isabela and Steve Callang of the Callang General Hospital.

The Bold Bunch - After a bowl of Soup Number 5 at
Dr. Jun Costales' Blends and Bites Cafe place where
Baby Back Ribs is the specialty of the house
From Left:  PHA E.O. Mac Caliwara, Dr. Costales Chief Of Hospital Southern Isabela General,
Edgardo Salud-PHA Treasurer, Dr. Ruben Flores-PHA President and
Dr. Art Flores, host

Blends and Bites Cafe

Dr. Inesita Javonillo
Javonillo Hospital, Cordon Isabela
and Dr. Ruben Flores PHA President

Steve Callang
Callang General Hospital

The group bid it's goodbye to evryone at around 8pm. Filled with hapy memories, they began their long evening trek back by land to Manila, all wearing a smile.  The group arrived safely as dawn was about to break.

Good job, congratulations and thank you, Flores Family!

As a postscript, Dr. Art has informed the PHA that it has been operating at 100% occupancy since its opening.

Dr. Art Flores