STRONGER LOCAL TIES IN CEBU DOC’S TARGETS
Fewer referrals to mother unit, Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital, from the group’s six other hospitals are among Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III’s goals as the new president and chairman of the board
Ophthalmologist Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III is the new president and chairman of the board of the Cebu Doctors’ Group (CDG) of hospitals.
He took his oath before Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial last Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
“The work of my father is done. He already made a legacy, it’s time we make our own...I will try my best to make you comfortable, from the doctors to the rank-and-file, by providing you with whatever you need. I want you to feel just like I do, that this is my second home,” said Larrazabal during his speech.
He unveiled the plans and goals of the group, which include a new hospital in the northern part of Cebu within five years.
At present, the group operates six hospitals: Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital, Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital (CDUH), Mactan Doctors’ Hospital, SouthGen Doctors’ Hospital, NorthGen Doctors’ Hospital, and San Carlos’ Doctors Hospital.
“We will transition from being a fee-for-service institution to a value-based health care organization,” said Larrazabal.
Under the new leadership, the group will also embark on innovation, interconnectedness, renovation and improvement of facilities’ programs to ensure excellent health care service for the community, he said.
The doctor said that the group has linked up with a US-based Filipino company to come up with a Cebu Doctors’ Group program, where all member-hospitals will be digitally interconnected.
“All hospitals will be linked with a program that is currently being created that will provide each patient with a card containing all his records than can be ac-
We need to innovate, otherwise we will be left behind. DR. YONG LARRAZABAL
cessed by doctors in all six hospitals,” he said. This can also serve as a discount card for patients in all CDG hospitals.
Aside from being interconnected, Larrazabal emphasized that each hospital will be independent and avoid as much as possible referrals to the mother hospital, CDUH.
“I want to bring local back to local, meaning I want the surrounding communities around each Cebu Doctors’ Group hospital to patronize the hospital there and avoid sending patients to the mother hospital,” he said.