World-class health care services in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Before the year ended, Cebu once again proved that it is a world-class destination, yet for another reason: Health services.

Chong Hua Hospital, the largest tertiary hospital in Cebu City with 660 bed capacity, was given the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation last October 30, acknowledging the institution’s commitment to meet international standards in delivering health services.

This means that Cebuanos have, for years, been enjoying top-notch medical care with Chong Hua’s innovative, specialized, and wholistic approach to health care.

This also means, according to Dr. Anthony Calibo of the Department of Health, that Cebu is now in the global map of “globally competitive health care destinations.”

In the country, only three hospitals have been given the privilege to brandish the JCI seal of approval, two of which is in the National Capital Region: St. Luke’s Medical Center and The Medical City.

Cebu is proud to host the third institution to have been granted this privilege by a group of international observers and authorities.

“The community should be proud that Chong Hua Hospital has made a commitment to quality and safety,” said JCI chief executive officer Karen Timmons in a statement.

JCI is an affiliate of The Joint Commission, an institution that has, for 75 years, been dedicated to improving the quality of health care organizations in the United States and around the world. The commission is committed to “improving the quality, safety and efficiency of health care services around the globe,” said a statement released by Chong Hua Hospital.

So, what does it mean to be a JCI institution?

First, this would mean improved patient safety and quality, since to be recognized signifies that the institution meets the minimum requirements imposed by the world’s top health care providers. To be accredited by JCI also signifies the institutions commitment to “quality, safety and continuous improvement.”

According to Dr. Calibo, with the accreditation, one could easily appreciate the impact in “totally improving the quality of care to the patients” since third party accreditation is done by people not connected with the institution, and so the conclusions drawn are more objective.

Also to be an accredited institution means recognition for the organization because, according to the statement released by Chong Hua Hospital, JCI standards “represent a worldwide consensus on quality patient care that reflects state-of-the-art health care practices and health care delivery trends.”

It added that accreditation would commit the organization and the people within the organization to “continuously improve patient care.”

“This puts a stamp (to the) high level of care being done by the institution,” said Dr. Calibo.

Another advantage of getting a JCI accreditation is increased community confidence since this gives a strong statement to the community of the desire of the institution “to provide the highest quality health care services.”

Lastly, accreditation also means for the institution to be given counsel on how to improve the delivery of services, which would translate to better health care for its patients.

Dr. Mary Noreen Chua, Chong Hua Hospital’s chair for the committee that oversaw the hospital’s accreditation, revealed that the hospital had been planning to be accredited with JCI since late 2006.

“We sought accreditation because we want to provide the best care possible for our patients,” said Chong Hua Hospital’s chief executive officer Lim Liu. “Earning accreditation from Joint Commission International is another step toward excellence.”

For three years, Dr. Chua’s committee had been working with the different departments of the hospital in order to come up with the best practices that would meet the standards of JCI.

Last October 19 to 23, the hospital finally welcomed the international team of doctors who evaluated every aspect of the hospitals operation. In an unprecedented decision, the hospital’s accreditation was approved seven days later. The usual time for the approval to be given is 60 days.

Chong Hua Hospital was started in 1909 by the Asociacion Benevola de Cebu to benefit sick Chinese residents of Cebu. It is categorized by the Department of Health as a Level 4 Hospital and has more than 500 physicians in 40 clinical specialties and subspecialties in its roll.

Annually it serves 30,000 inpatient admissions, 40,000 emergency room cases, and 9,000 surgeries.

It boasts of having the most comprehensive and automated laboratory services in the Visayas, the only imaging service that uses the widest range of imaging modalities with complete Picture Archiving Communications System, the largest dialysis unit in Cebu, the most comprehensive pulmonary services, and the only institution with a Center for Sleep Disorders managed by a sleep disorder specialist.