Clustering to lessen VSMMC referrals

CEBU, Philippines — A cluster system will now be adopted by the 16 district and provincial hospitals in Cebu so as to lessen the concentration of patient referrals to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Even prior to her assumption to office, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has already expressed her plans in maximizing the province’s public hospitals in order to decongest the only level-three hospital in the province.

Cebu 4th District Board Member and the Health and Social Services Committee Head Kerrie Shimura revealed that efforts from the Provincial Government are already being made to maximize the 16 public hospitals.

“Naka-cluster na na ang atong mga district hospitals, so dili na ta pwede nga mura bitaw tag terminal hospital nga inig abot, pasa dayon sa Sotto,” Shimura said.

This means that patients who could not be accommodated by district hospitals will first be referred to the nearest Provincial Hospital, unlike the usual practice of immediately transferring patients to VSMMC even if they are not in need of level three treatment.

Transfers and referrals will now be recorded through online monitoring sheets by the province.

The Provincial Government also intends on applying some of its provincial and district hospitals to the Department of Health (DOH) for level two and level three accreditation.

Meanwhile, along with the cluster system, Shimura also said the district and provincial hospitals were already given instructions by Garcia to never turn down patients.

“Sa pagkakaron lang, medyo naa pa jud sa point nga nagsige pa ug han-ay sa staffing, sa mga problema sa district hospital,” Shimura said.

On the complaints on social media about the inefficient system in district hospitals due to the lack of manpower, Shimura said that they were denied by the chief of hospital.

“Ang number of doctors and patients kay mo-compliment ra man gud sa number of patients,” Shimura assured.

She said that there are speculations that these complaints are just from the families of the terminated staff. (FREEMAN)