On the eve of its third anniversary, the Navotas City Hospital launched an electronic medical record system for more efficient delivery of healthcare services.
NCH will now use Bahmni EMR to process patient check-ups, admissions, or discharge. It will enable health professionals to easily access a patient’s medical and treatment history.
Present during the launching were Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Rep. Toby Tiangco, and other city officials.
“A few years ago, we envisioned having a hospital of our own. Our city government did not want to build a mere facility that treats patients. We wanted it to offer quality services, services that are at par with private hospitals,” Mayor Tiangco said.
NCH opened to the public in 2015 with a 50-bed capacity. It offers services including internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology, among others.
“This computerization program reflects our dedication to continuous improvement. By harnessing technology, we make our processes more efficient and effective,” he said.
“At the heart of our efforts to improve our processes is the desire to serve Navoteños better, especially those who have less in life,” he added.
On the other hand, Rep. Tiangco recalled the pre-planning stages of the hospital during his last term as Navotas mayor.
“We wanted to build the very first hospital in Navotas and give quality medical services to our constituents without the burden of expensive fees and payments. However, it was impossible for our city to shoulder all the costs,” he said.
His administration started the mass enrollment of indigent Navoteños to the PhilHealth program to help ensure the hospital’s self-sufficiency and sustainability.
“We targeted 3,000 beneficiaries and we were able to initially distribute 500 PhilHealth cards. Now, around 30,000 Navoteños have PhilHealth coverage,” he said.
However, Rep. Tiangco reminded that quality service does not mean merely providing inexpensive or free treatment.
“As public servants and carers of the sick, we should also serve with compassion and empathy,” he said.
Last year, five units of hemodialysis machines were installed at the NCH to serve 10-15 patients daily.
The city government plans to build an additional building that will increase the hospital’s total bed capacity to 100.
Navotas will also soon have a medical and wellness center that will replace the current Navotas Emergency and Lying-in Clinic.
This medical hub will offer drug testing, community-based rehabilitation and physical therapy, animal bite treatment, clinical laboratory, and diagnostic services such as ultrasound, ECG, and x-ray.
The center will also feature dental services, teen health services, social hygiene services, breast checkup and mammography, and environmental and sanitation services.