SPHMC@50: Golden and growing strong
Getting sick or hurt is an unavoidable part of life. And because all of us need medical care at some point, having access to basic health-care services is an important indicator of a healthy and just society. In Southern Tagalog, St. Patrick’s Hospital Medical Center (SPHMC) in Batangas City has been known as the center of medical, technological and administrative innovations, setting the standard of quality health care in the region.
In an interview with The Philippine STAR, SPHMC President and CEO Dr. Loralie Evangeline Perez-Miranda talks about the pursuit for quality health care, the vision of her parents and a number of milestones ahead of the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebration. Birth of a vision
Officially incorporated in 1968, the medical institution formerly known as Saint Patrick’s Hospital, Inc. was born out of the tireless efforts of renowned EENT surgeon Dr. Abelardo B. Perez and his wife Rose Martha MacIntoshPerez, a Canadian nurse. With an initial capacity of 25 beds, the two-story hospital formally opened on March 29, 1971, where Dr. Perez served as medical director while his wife became the hospital administrator. By 1974, an annex building was constructed and five years later, two additional floors were opened, increasing bed capacity to 50. Further expansion with an additional two floors in 1979 increased the hospital’s capacity to 100 beds.
“We are a patient-centered hospital, always committed to providing the best health care possible towards the patient, giving utmost respect to the sanctity of life, human dignity and service to the Filipino family. This is the idea behind my parents’ vision,” Miranda explains.
In the mid ‘90s, the hospital embarked on another expansion phase, buying an adjacent property to establish a second annex building, which was completed in 1995. SPHMC was later elevated into a Medical Center in 1996 by the Department of Health, becoming the only Level III private hospital in Batangas City. SPHMC is also a member of the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and accredited with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC).
Pioneer in Southern Tagalog
Under the able leadership of Dr. Miranda — supported by SPHMC hospital administrator Dr. Michael Francis Perez and Dr. Abegayle Machelle Perez-Chua as medical director — the second generation of Perez’ have continued their parents work in making SPHMC a home as one of the most advanced health-care facilities and amenities in Southern Tagalog.
“Back in the ‘70s, SPHMC was the first one in the area to have air-conditioning units in the rooms, the first to have an ultrasound, a CT Scan, a Cardio Pulmonary Department, the first to have a ventilator. In our area, we have always tried to
set the standard, to continuously upgrade and innovate our services. We have the Hyperbaric and Wound Healing Center and a Vestibular Hearing Center with Dr. Michael M. Perez and Dr. Abegayle P. Chua as facility directors respectively. We have had our own hyperbaric chamber since 2001, probably the largest in the country. These are just some examples of how we have been moving forward, pushing toward quality improvement and health care innovation. Quality improvement has always been part of the mission and vision of the hospital. This is what the founders wanted. As the second generation, it is up to us to keep the fires burning, we are passionate about keeping that dream alive,” Miranda enumerates.
Growing strong, expanding horizons
To be more responsive to the medical needs of the Filipino people, SPHMC has embarked on its largest expansion yet. In 2009, the management acquired adjacent properties for construction of a new hospital building, pending the final approval of plans from the Department of Health (DOH). Their latest acquisition last 2017 was a sizeable lot for parking. Upon the completion of the new hospital wing, the public can have better access to SPHMC medical services and treatment programs.
“Through the years, we have proved that we are very committed to the vision our parents had, to make St. Patrick’s grow even more. We are here to stay and we are moving forward, improving our facilities and present services, adding a new floor to our annex building. Soon, we’ll also be opening new departments and some of the services will be moved to our additional floor. We have strengthened our present services and made a step-by-step approach into this expansion program. As we go forward with construction, all hospital services will not be affected, ” Miranda shares.
The St. Patrick family
A key component of SPHMC’s quality healthcare is the strong support staff of 275 employees and 320 active and visiting consultants. Under the guidance, direction and proper support system from management, these dedicated and empowered men and women have taken it upon themselves to propel the hospital to where it is today. And management is grateful.
“The SPHMC management is also very family-oriented in the approach towards employees. As a way of giving back, we treat everybody as part of the SPHMC family. Employees and their immediate family members enjoy 100-percent hospitalization benefits, as well as the retirement benefits. We treat them like family,” recalls Miranda.
SPHMC have also helped students who cannot afford tuition fees in their education since 1971. Every year a number of students assistants that work with them and are sent to school. “In the time they work with us if we observe that they are diligent and trustworthy, we usually hire them after they graduate”, says Miranda.
A ordable, accessible healthcare for all
To continue offering affordable, accessible and quality health care to more Filipinos, SPHMC has adopted a few measures. “Actually, our prices are not that expensive. Hospital fees are separate from the professional fees of doctors; fees and rates are also very reasonable and competitive. We have the K3 Program spearheaded by the hospital administrator for people who cannot afford hospitalization, the indigents. They enroll in the K3 Program where we have a full-time social worker to work with them, qualify them and make sure they are PhilHealth members. For these patients who cannot afford, we charge just the PhilHealth and nothing more. In our pharmacies, we provide cheaper alternatives to prescription medicines. When our doctors give prescriptions, we encourage them to consider these more affordable medicines that are Filipinomade,” Miranda assures.
In its five decades of impeccable service, St. Patrick’s Hospital Medical Center has maintained the ability to deliver highly advanced and deeply compassionate care to patients and their families. So when a sudden illness or medical emergency befalls a loved one, count on SPHMC to ensure respectful and responsive care that is committed to upholding the sanctity of human life — at all times.