Gwen warns hospital execs
“Shape up or ship out” was the warning Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued to the heads of the 16 provincial and district hospitals in the province, after they had undergone assessment for three months.
The evaluation team created by the Capitol, headed by its health consultant Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, has rated the provincial-run health facilities during the three-month evaluation period on their operation.
Some of the hospitals got a perfect five (5) score while others got very satisfactory and satisfactory ratings.
Loreche presented to Garcia the result of their assessment during their meeting together with the chiefs of hospitals and representatives last Tuesday at the Capitol.
Results showed that the Cebu Provincial Hospital (CPH) Balamban and CPH Carcar Provincial, including the Camotes District Hospital, got a perfect score.
The Tuburan District Hospital and the Minglanilla District Hospital got 4.8; Oslob District Hospital (4.6); CPH Bogo (4.5); Malabuyoc District Hospital (4.3); Badian District Hospital scored (4.3); Argao District Hospital (4.2); Daanbantayan District Hospital (4.0) or “very satisfactory” rating.
Both the Bantayan District Hospital and the Barili District Hospital got 3.8; Sogod District Hospital (3.5); Pinamungahan District Hospital (3.4); while the CPH-Danao got a “satisfactory” rate of 3.0.
Loreche said the hospitals are rated based on the leadership and management of the facility; client satisfaction; infrastructure and economics.
It was in the month of September last year when the evaluation team visited the 16 provincial and district hospitals to make an initial assessment. After the inspection, the team gave a list to the management of the hospitals on what needs to be improved.
After three months, these facilities were re-assessed to see if the recommendations were followed or not.
Some of the recommendations made by the evaluation team is to maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities; infrastructure concerns, since some of the structures need repair; and the food to be served must always be nutritious.
The Capitol has engaged the hospital for the Sugbusog program so that these health facilities will have their own garden where they can harvest fruits and vegetables that they can cook and serve to their patients.
Loreche said that while they gave high scores and perfect scores to some provincial-run hospitals, it does not mean that there’s no need to improve.
“Although we give them a perfect score, it’s on the leadership and management. But there are things man gud that are beyond their control. Meaning to say their CT Scan is with the supplier, so that’s an issue and it’s not their fault why the CT scan is not functioning,” Loreche said.
After hearing the assessment, Garcia reminded the chiefs of hospitals to always give the best health service to its patients.
“Ang most immediate is to address the most glaring and that which would cause more misery and suffering to our people should the type of management continue for even a day more. So, kana that’s the immediate. I will have to make some changes there,” she said.
They are also looking at giving the hospitals another 60 days to improve their operations and services based on the recommendation made by the evaluation team.
After 60 days, another round of evaluation will be done to the hospitals. If at that time nothing will improve, Garcia said “as I said shape up or ship out.”
“Pero naa tingale mahitabo karon immediately pud nga dili. I cannot wait (for) 60 days. I won’t wait 60 days because that will mean additional poor service and mismanagement that will only inflict more suffering to our patients,” Garcia said. —