SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The state-run Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) recently earned the Department of Health (DOH) Excellence Award for its exceptional healthcare delivery in the Ilocos region.
The excellence award is for the hospital category and is given to qualified hospitals that have shown outstanding efforts in enhancing the efficiency of healthcare services, ensuring patient safety, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of individual treatments, and advancing community health programs.
The ITRMC was recognized as a pivotal institution in achieving the health department’s eight-point action agenda through its dedication and performance.
The DOH eight-point action agenda aims to contribute to better health outcomes, stronger health systems, and access to all levels of care by focusing on the holistic needs of Filipino individuals, communities, and health workers and institutions.
Employee-centric recognition
Dr. Eduardo M. Badua III, Medical Center Chief II of ITRMC, stated that the award reflects the collective efforts of every hospital staff member, fostering a work environment that excels in healthcare delivery.
“The DOH Excellence Award is a recognition of ITRMC’s outstanding healthcare services, made possible by the dedication of every team member who played a crucial role in the hospital’s success,” Badua remarked.
Beyond the award, Badua emphasizes that the hospital draws its greatest motivation from the positive feedback from patients who have benefited from their care.
He also notes that ITRMC will be remembered not just for the services it provided, but for the compassion and care patients experienced during their stay.
“What truly matters is the satisfaction we feel when a patient leaves healthy and content with the care we provided,” Badua added.
Moreover, this award further cements the hospital’s vision of becoming the Sillag ti Amianan or Moonbeam of the North, part of the hospital’s goal to expand its health services in order to cater to more people.
Healthcare expansion
The ITRMC’s recent healthcare award arrives amidst a significant expansion phase, with the hospital now proudly hosting five newly established specialty centers designed to deliver advanced care to patients from La Union and surrounding regions.
Among these centers are the basic trauma care and advanced eye care facilities, which commenced operations in 2022, and the orthopedic and neonatal care centers, both of which opened last year.
In the first half of 2024, the hospital also introduced a new mental health specialty center, further broadening its range of services.
Looking ahead, Badua reveals that the hospital plans to continue its growth trajectory by developing specialized centers for heart care, brain and spine care, and geriatric care, with completion projected by 2028.
WHO accreditation for vaccine-preventable diseases
The hospital’s recognition extends beyond national borders, as ITRMC earned accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this year as a measles and rubella subnational laboratory (SNL).
The accreditation means that test samples for these viruses no longer need to be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila, streamlining the process and conserving valuable time and resources for clients in need of these critical services.
Badua highlights that this excellence award holds even greater significance in the context of a rapidly advancing healthcare landscape, where access to services has become increasingly efficient through technological advancements.
“We boast a state-of-the-art molecular laboratory, equipped with an AIA (acid-insoluble ash) determination machine that identifies antigens and antibodies, making us the only facility in extreme Northern Luzon with such advanced capabilities,” Badua explains.
Exclusive recognition
The ITRMC is one of just two hospitals in the Ilocos region recognized by the DOH at its recent awards ceremony, followed by the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Ilocos Norte.
The MMMH&MC earned the distinction after being the top-ranked hospital in the country for 2023, based on the DOH’s performance monitoring report, which evaluated efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare services.
The awarding was part of the 126th anniversary celebration of the DOH at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on June 21, 2024. (MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
