The journey to excellence is rarely linear, but for Dr. Eduardo M. Badua III, Medical Center Chief II of the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), it has been a steady climb of dedication, leadership, and a commitment to improving healthcare.
This journey reached a new stratosphere on Nov. 30, 2024, when ITRMC was awarded the Gold Trailblazer Award by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), a recognition of the hospital’s governance and service delivery.
The four-stage PGS process
The Performance Governance System (PGS) framework is a practical approach, guiding organizations like ITRMC through a structured process that not only focuses on improving healthcare services but also enhances overall governance and transparency.
The PGS process has four stages, helping ITRMC improve its practices, stay focused on long-term goals, and implement strategies that directly improve patient care and hospital operations, including:
- Initiation Stage – This is where an organization starts its journey, setting a clear vision and preparing for change.
- Compliance Stage – At this stage, the organization makes sure its actions match its goals and shows improvements in its work.
- Proficiency Stage – The organization demonstrates that it is now delivering high-quality services and is good at what it does.
- Sustainability Stage – Finally, the organization focuses on keeping the improvements going and continuing to innovate for long-term success.
The journey began in March 2019 when ITRMC embarked on its PGS journey, enrolling in ISA’s four-stage pathway program.
The goal was clear: to enhance governance and improve the quality of healthcare services provided to the region.
Dr. Badua and his team understood that transformation required structured guidance, measurable outcomes, and the willingness to embrace innovation.
“We want to make ITRMC a healthcare institution that should be responsive to the needs of the people, particularly the people of La Union and Region 1,” Badua said.
Initiation and compliance
ITRMC’s first milestone came in June 2019, when the hospital successfully passed the Initiation Stage.
This achievement marked the beginning of a structured approach to governance reform, setting the stage for the improvements that would follow.
It was the first of many milestones on a path that would push ITRMC to rethink its approach to healthcare governance, patient care, and service delivery.
“The initiation stage was the most difficult for us. In any undertaking, it is difficult to start a new thing. You are introducing a new system that will make people work and think outside the box and outside their comfort zones,” Badua said.
As the hospital advanced through the PGS framework, it reached the Compliance Stage on Jan. 27, 2023, where it demonstrated measurable improvements in its operations.
This stage was vital as it showcased ITRMC’s commitment to aligning its actions with strategic goals and achieving long-term sustainability.
These achievements culminated in the ITRMC being formally recognized with the Gold Trailblazer Award in the Proficiency Stage last year, a testament to the hospital’s dedication to excellence.
Dr. Badua highlighted the role of collaboration in this transformation.
“Everything we do is communicated to our employees for our direction to be clear to them, especially when it comes to healthcare, which is our core function,” Badua remarked.
A hospital’s pioneering achievements
Under Dr. Badua’s leadership, ITRMC set new standards in healthcare governance and service delivery.
Some of the hospital’s key accomplishments during its PGS journey include:
- Establishing a healthcare provider network.
- Supporting district hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic by re-engineering services to cater to the influx of patients.
- Managing up to 600 calls per day during the pandemic surge, ensuring that patients received timely assistance.
- Expanding the capacity of its Emergency Department by 200 percent, allowing it to respond to patient surges effectively.
- Successfully implementing a COVID-19 Action Plan that provided comprehensive care to the community.
- Upgrading hospital IT systems and launching an e-Konsulta program that catered to nearly 12,000 consults.
- Establishing a BUCAS (Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services) Center in Tubao, La Union, last year to provide comprehensive outpatient services and bring quality healthcare closer to the community.
Dr. Badua noted the shift in organizational culture that helped achieve these results.
“When the people started to show their appreciation to us, our personnel’s acceptance of the change we were implementing became better, and it eventually led to them voluntarily doing their part,” he said.
These achievements were not just numbers on a report; they reflected ITRMC’s commitment to improving healthcare access, patient care, and overall hospital performance in the region.
Unified front towards excellence
Dr. Badua was quick to acknowledge that the Gold Trailblazer Award was not the result of individual effort but a collective achievement, emphasizing the importance of a supportive work environment.
“It is also about the people working in the hospital and their contribution to ensuring that the hospital is a safe place for work, that there is a good working relationship fostered, and most importantly, that all employees are treated equally,” Badua said.
His leadership style, which emphasized collaboration, transparency, and accountability, helped foster a culture of excellence within the hospital.
His vision for ITRMC has always been to make the institution a truly people-centered organization, and this award is a testament to the success of that vision.
Maintaining the momentum
The journey does not end with the Gold Trailblazer Award.
For Dr. Badua and ITRMC, this recognition is just one milestone in their ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services for the region.
Dr. Badua also elaborated on his vision for inclusivity.
“We treat people fairly, regardless of religion or sexual preference. Our employees are varied. Persons with disabilities are welcome to work within the premises of ITRMC,” he said.
ITRMC is already focused on the next phase of its transformation, aiming to fully integrate its Health System Development and Care for Universal Health Care program by 2025.
“We are working under the framework and strategies of the Strategic Plan of the Department of Health (DOH). We are working on Universal Health Care and for ITRMC, we are working both on public health and to be a center for tertiary and specialized care, of being an apex hospital,” Dr. Badua explained.
Recognition as a fellow of the ISA
Adding to the list of accolades, Dr. Badua was recently recognized as a Fellow of the ISA, a distinction that honors individuals who exemplify excellence in governance.
“This is both an opportunity and a challenge. Being conferred a fellow of ISA is an acceptance to a group of good governance practitioners. You are being recognized as an advocate, a practitioner of good governance,” Dr. Badua remarked, reflecting on the recognition.
As Dr. Badua continues to lead ITRMC, the hospital’s commitment to excellence in governance, patient care, and innovation will continue to shape the future of healthcare in the Ilocos Region and beyond. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
