Archives for Health & Medicines category
Dear Doki-Rich,
Happy New Year!
It was not a very happy new year for me, though, because I had just said goodbye to something that I had learned to carry around in my mind and my heart. (And, believe it or not, caused me to lose 20 precious pounds!) It was difficult not to call up the Emergency Room to ask about all of you and how you all did after the new year. But certainly, life is like that.
At the outset, please allow me to say that I hold no grudges nor have I ever regretted the decision to take on the JRBGH leadership… even while my heart (which used to be majority “hospital mother”) is sad at the moment.
Thank you very much for the “Open Letter…” that you wrote. Can a heart enlarge non-physiologically, Doctor? My heart swelled with pride to know that there are among you who value my stay at the JRBGH. But, I had to caution myself… let the swelling stay in my chest… I did not want to be afflicted with emphysema of the brain… or symptoms to that effect.
But, even while I had decided to leave the JRBGH (where I was prepared to retire and die in… maybe not really “… die for…” as you said), I couldn’t help but try to point out a few things for you. It seems my leadership mode for the JRBGH hasn’t really been totally turned off.
Doki Rich, as soon as I arrived at the JRBGH a little over a year and 3 months ago, among other things, I made sure that we had a working Executive Committee (Execom) composed of the Division Heads and me. Please humor me by allowing me to explain why. Because I believed that everyone in the hospital needed to have a significant part in how we would run the hospital. We needed to allow every single person to be accountable not only to their immediate supervisors but to the hospital clientele, the people of Cagayan de Oro City: the main reason why we are. This meant that every week, the Execom met and discussed hospital concerns emanating from city hall, hospital management, personnel, patients and other stakeholders (DOH, media, the youth council, etc).
From these meetings, the Execom went to their Divisions to trickle down our thoughts and promote upstream run of issues. And once a month, we had a Hospital General Meeting to identify, air out and address concerns. (At this point, allow me to say thank you to everyone… those who supported what I tried to do: because they made my work easy and those who didn’t quite agree: because they kept me on my toes to try and be better.)
Why do I bring this up again? Because Doki-Rich, I want to point out that my leadership style called for the involvement of everyone and that such be properly implemented, too. I wanted to walk my talk. All of us needed to have a voice in how we run the hospital. All of us needed to know where we wanted to go. All of us needed to know our weaknesses. All of us needed to know our strengths. All of us needed to know our Vision and Mission: to be a tertiary hospital responsible for the health needs of Cagayan de Oro City. Thus, as your previous leader, I encourage you to continue to be responsible and accountable to yourself, the hospital and the people with regards what we are BEST in: the hospital care of Cagay-anons.
I do not intend for this to be a pitch for my return to the JRBGH. At this stage, I don’t think that’s best for our hospital. You were all witness to my experience there. My staying on will only mean that the JRBGH will not be able to get what it truly needs.
FOCUS instead on the Systems changes that can improve the services of the hospital: Fiscal autonomy or at least, retention of income and a revolving drug fund; Hiring of Resident doctors and augmentation of staff for expanded hospital operations; Review and modification of the procurement system; Training, training and more training for the staff (on clinical knowledge and values formation); and provision of appropriate benefits for personnel and staff. We need to open up our hospital to knowledge and technology that can markedly improve our services.
Doki Rich, our problem is not just money. It is a metanoia (is this the right word?) , on all levels. We need to take on our vision and mission. We need to live it and exert all our energies to “get there.” (as YOUR favorite President-elect aptly puts it. ) I hope we can “get there” without dealing with all these on a personal level.
While accolades and verbal or nonverbal support truly warms this ageing heart and adds to my treasure chest of fond memories to delve into during times of strife, I really should once more “lead” you away from this track. As I have said over and over again, no one is indispensable. Our systems should run; our services should be optimal whoever is at the helm.
Lastly, let me share with you this piece (attached file “national”) on why I think Nationalization of our Hospital is advantageous to all concerned. No one really asked for my opinion on this matter so please allow me to impose it on you. It is not a complete list, I am sure. It may not even be totally true as I did not consult with anybody on this. But, these are my personal ideas and if proven wrong, again, I shall humbly accept.
My warmest regards to you, Jovy and your beautiful family. Pa sobra pa diay: my personal and humble thanks to Jovy who selflessly turned over her hospital showcase. It shows what kind of hearts you have and where our hospital lies in your lives. And, while I have thanked you for this, let me say that one of the peaks of my stay at the JRBGH was having a website: ALL OUR VERY OWN! And this was because of you… May blessings upon blessings come upon you.
Yours truly,
DET
ADVANTAGES:
1. Direction for this government health facility will be in line with the New Public Management System of the Health Sector.
a. The DOH is the authority in health systems
b. The DOH has the researches and projections on output that when put to use, will serve the best health interest of the populace of Cagayan de Oro City.
c. Rationalization of Health Resources based on Health Need for Cagayan de Oro City and Region X can be more fully studied and addressed.
2. The DOH has the budget for the Health Sector
a. A hospital under the DOH will have priority to its annual budget
b. The JRBGH need not compete with other services of the local government for its limited budget
c. The DOH has access to overseas funding agencies that regularly provides for the health sector and can direct some of these to the JRBGH
d. The LGU-run hospital will not need to constantly ask for a share in the national DOH budget for health; the JRBGH shall have a regular budget from DOH.
e. When properly managed with the appropriate directives, the JRBGH can further move towards sustainability with Corporatization and better fiscal management, thus providing for its own means to support advances and upgrading of facilities.
3. Continuing Education and training
a. DOH is the repository of brilliant minds in health: including training and education
b. DOH has regular training for its staff and personnel
c. Foreign-funded training coursed through the DOH will be available for the personnel of JRBGH
d. Services will be enhanced with training of the Administration, Nursing, Ancillary and Medical Staff of the Hospital
4. Hospital Services
a. All directives and orders of the DOH shall be implemented. These are guaranteed to provide optimum hospital health care for the patients.
b. Infrastructure completion can be factored into the short, medium and long-term plans of DOH for the JRBGH, hence completing the whole hospital as a Medical Center in probably 5-10 years.
c. Retention of Income can allow the hospital to continue to improve and add to its equipment complement to be able to provide the various basic and specialty hospital that is necessary in Cagayan de Oro.
d. A Revolving Drug Fund can be put into place immediately to correct the dearth of drugs and medicines. Emergency drugs shall then be always available for the hospital clientele.
e. Suppliers will not hesitate to negotiate with a re-nationalized hospital.
5. Personnel Benefits
a. DOH administrative orders shall provide the best milieu and work conditions for the staff of the JRBGH. Benefits shall be provided. The Magna Carta for Public Health Workers can be implemented.
b. National Qualification Standards and the Career Path for the Health Sector shall be implemented.
6. Others:
a. The hospital can continue to be named the J.R.Borja General Hospital and thus, hold on to the historical aspect of the hospital. It shall continue to be a City Hospital for Cagayan de Oro City but, more responsive to the City’s needs.
b. The JRBGH can be more involved in the Rationalization of Health Services for the City in particular and the whole region in general.
c. The JRBGH can be a more responsive Government Health Facility for Region X because an upgraded and properly managed hospital can provide the necessary tertiary health care while the Northern Mindanao Medical Center can be allowed to develop and provide Sub-specialty care. This will then mean that patients who need transplant surgery, advanced cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery, neuro-surgery and other services need not go to Cebu or Manila for such
DISADVANTAGES:
1. Ownership will not anymore rest with the local government of Cagayan de Oro City.
2. Hiring, Firing and management will be turned-over to the National Government.
(Attachment: Dr. Tagayuna’s letter)
Posted on 2008 under Health & Medicines, Hospitals |
31
Dec
Nurses go on duty even on New Years Eve.
I am writing this to show my sentiments on the current issue that the Chief of Hospital of J.R. Borja General Hospital in the person of Dr. Dures Tagayuna received an order recalling her to the City Health Office.
What’s all the fuzz? Dr. Tagayuna has done more for the Hospital and it’s Personnel and Staff in the past 2 years she served as Chief of Hospital than any of her predecessors who served the same period. She was sweet-talked into running an almost dying institution probably not so much as to save it but more so in the hope of making her a political ally by the way things are going.
However, seeing that her being in her present office is not serving IT’S ORIGINAL PURPOSE but rather going in a different direction notwithstanding that direction is for the good of the institution and of it’s staff and clientele, she is being ordered to vacate her office in the pretense of being needed elsewhere for her leadership.
If the appointing office really believes in her capabilities as a leader, they will retain her in her present office and not put her at some imaginary station where she is supposed to be of better service. That reasoning may go unchallenged by the run of the mill folks whose loyalties can be easily bought by a handful of pesos but to expect the honest intelligent worker to believe that, is definitely an insult.
Dr. Tagayuna has her eye on the future of J.R. Borja General City Hospital. She hopes she can make a difference and leave a legacy for the succeeding generations of patients who will benefit from such changes. She is even willing to die for it but apparently others “entities” have set their sight on the hospital too and one can only wonder what they see.
What do they see? Do they see a leader who can bring the hospital to greater heights or do they see an obstacle to their own purposes? Do they see the health workers serving more than they are required to, under substandard condition, being exposed to communicable diseases with inadequate protection and no hazard fee? Or do they see sweatshops where they can cut down on benefits and save money for other projects? Do they see the father who is the breadwinner of the family laying sick in a worn out bed? Do they see the mother of 10 children taking care of a sick baby? Do they see a 10 year-old child wondering what he will do with the prescription in his hand because there is no medicine available in the hospital pharmacy? Or do they see that at least none of them are their fathers, neither their mothers, nor their sons nor their daughters? Do they see the sick who seek the comforts of the hospital or do they only see what the hospital can give back to the City?
Who took it upon themselves to be responsible for caring for the people? Do you? We at J.R. Borja General City Hospital do! That’s why we cannot just sit down and let anybody take away from us, a good leader who has given this hospital a direction. She boosted the staff’s morale that had been hanging low in the past several years and pulling her out means pulling everyone’s morale down.
If the goal is to make everyone subservient to the whims of a self-seeking power then the hope for change will be crushed. How long can one keep on banging his head against the wall if the wall does not give in? Until he finds another way to survive without banging his head on the wall.
I have worked in the hospital for almost three years now. With my training, I thought I could make a difference. On my own I found out I could not. It took the presence of a passionate leader to help realize some of those hopes. Suddenly, going to work is not so much of a burden anymore knowing what we are doing is not going to waste. While we still lack equipment to give the most basic of services, while we are still short on supplies, while some of our basic benefits are still not given to us, we can work thinking, all those problems are workable and someday the solutions will be found by the right person/s with the right attitude.
Health should be a priority that is not affected by biases, pride, and powerplay. Dr. Dures Tagayuna is the man for the job as Chief of the J.R. Borja General City Hospital. Remove her from the helm and the hospital will be like a ship without a Captain, driven wherever the wind fancies it to go. If you want to save the hospital put Dr. Tagayuna at the helm.
DR. RICHEL BACOT
Medical Officer IV
J.R. Borja General Hospital
Andromeda band performed at the PCP - Northern Mindanao Chapter Christmas party. Andromeds band, one of the city’s most popular bands. Exciting, strong music from the band - but not too loud to stop you chatting to your friends.
The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Whilst we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done.
World AIDS Day 2008 materials are available online. Click here to download resources.
Sorry, the mail version of the World AIDS Day materials are SOLD OUT!!!!!
The public is hereby advised not to panic in the presently suspected Hog Cholera incidence in the province of Misamis Oriental. However, farmers are advised to be vigilant in the reporting of any case they observed in their livestock, to effect immediate control of the disease.
The cause of the incidence of mortalities has yet to be confirmed by the central laboratory at the Philippine Animal Health Center (PAHC), Bureau of Animal Industry, Manila. To whcih, samples have been sent to PAHC.
The Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Unit 10 (DA-RFU 10) is assisting the Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units of Misamis Oriental in the control measures with the release of 3,450 doses of Hog Cholera vaccines. As of today, the incidence report has declined in the municipalities that have instituted vaccination.
In the meantime, the farmers are advised not to “force slaughter” or sell their sick animals to traders for this will be a means of spreading the disease. They are advised to report immediately to the nearest Municipal Agriculture Office, to the Provincial or City Veterinary Office, or call the Department of Agriculture (Hotline 09209386798 or 09192335738).
For the consuming public, we advise them to buy only the meat that passed Meat Inspection by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) at accredited slaughterhouses. Meat that passed Meat Inspection has distinguishing Meat Inspection stamp or branding (inspected & passed).
We appeal for everybody’s cooperation in controlling the spread of the disease. Report at once!! Department of Agriculture has already advised the other Provincial Governors of REgion 10 to monitor, report, institute measures to control spread.
Thank you…
Lealyn A. Ramos
Regional Executive Director, DA - RFU 10
November 5, 2008
Philippine College of Physician (PCP)
Doctors on Center Stage Dance Drama Concert
Atrium, Limketkai December 6, 2008
Posted on 2008 under Health & Medicines, Hospitals |
21
Oct
Philippine Pediatric Society Inc.
North-Central Mindanao Chapter
Officers and Members of the Board of Trustees
President………………………….. Leo G. Notario, M.D.
Vice President ………………….. Fernando Douglas A. Go, M.D.
Secretary …………………………. Dennis James E. Absin, M.D.
Treasurer ………………………… Leah C. Tancongco, M.D.
Asst. Treasurer ………………… Riza Canoy, M.D.
PRO ……………………………….. Alfredo A. Yap, M.D.
Auditor ………………………….. Desiree Ann T. Bibera, M.D.
Members of the Board………. Patricia V. Gaid, M.D.
…………………………………….. Gregorio G. Cardona, M.D.
…………………………………….. Evelyn Hernandez, M.D.
…………………………………….. Dimpna P. Torrevillas, M.D.
Immediate Past President … Grace Malou L. Vega, M.D.
