CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – The Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) is intensifying efforts to improve health care services and strengthen its position as a regional apex hospital.
In a recent meeting with leaders from government agencies, business groups, civil society and academia, Dr. Joseph Chrysler Beja, NMMC’s quality management representative and chief training officer, announced the construction of an eight-story trauma building with 15 specialty centers.
“At NMMC, we focus on patient-centered services that address the changing needs of our community. Our teams collaborate to provide continuous care, from early detection and diagnostics to treatment and rehabilitation,” Beja said.
He also noted that NMMC extended outpatient services until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays to improve patient access.
Beja added that these efforts address the increasing patient volume and outpatient care demand and support the hospital’s goal of providing efficient, high-quality health care.
Dr. Bernard-Julius Rocha, head of the NMMC Office of Strategy Management, said these efforts reinforce NMMC’s role as a 1,200-bed regional apex hospital integrating advanced health care practices, facilities and technology to improve patient care.
He added that NMMC plans to offer fellowship and nursing training programs, support multi-center research and innovation and strengthen relationships with stakeholders to enhance local primary care services.
Rocha also emphasized NMMC’s commitment to meeting local and international quality standards. The hospital is currently in the Compliance stage of the Performance Governance System (PGS), which enhances its governance and strategic frameworks.
To ensure accountability and transparency, NMMC is inviting stakeholders to join the Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC), which will help guide governance initiatives, shape patient-centered policies and validate strategies to address public health needs.
Rocha said the MSGC will play a key role in reshaping public perception of NMMC and positioning it as the preferred health care provider in northern Mindanao.
“We don’t want the people to perceive NMMC as a hospital merely for the poor. We want to develop the perception that you go to NMMC because it is the best. Whether you have money or not, the best that northern Mindanao can offer in terms of health care, being the apex hospital, is Northern Mindanao Medical Center,” Rocha added. (GDA/PIA-10)
