DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Conrado F. Estrella Regional and Trauma Medical Center (CFERTMC), a Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospital, is ready for opening as a Level 1 hospital.
A Level 1 hospital has an operating room, a recovery room, maternity facilities, isolation facilities, a clinical laboratory, an imaging facility, and a pharmacy.
It also has a comprehensive care center for trauma and is capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury – from prevention through rehabilitation.
Medical Center Chief Dr. Emerson Patawaran said, “We are aiming to be licensed as a Level 1 hospital so that we can start our surgical operations in our new and upgraded operating rooms. Makakapag-operate na rin po kami ng mga emergency cases at makakapag-accommodate ng mga patients who will undergo appendectomy at cesarean delivery.”
“Once ma-approved ang application namin for Level 1, magkakaroon na ng ultrasound and 2D (two dimensional) echocardiography para sa mga may coronary or heart-related concerns. We can also conduct blood transfusion and X-ray examination,” Patawaran added.
CFERTMC boasts of its new three-story, 100-bed capacity, and fully air-conditioned building with new facilities and medical equipment installed including advanced radiology, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dialysis, physical therapy sections, emergency room, laboratory, pharmacy, OB-GYN, operating room, delivery, room, surgical room, colonoscopy, ward, intensive care unit (ICU), E-Konsulta unit, and administrative sections.
Personnel of CFERTMC conduct final inspection of installed medical equipment in preparation for the facility's opening as a level 1 hospital with new medical services to be offered for patients of eastern Pangasinan.
In a statement, DOH Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said that CFERTMC continues to strengthen and expand its delivery of health services to the community.
“The regional office supports its journey towards becoming an apex hospital that will further improve its performance, ensure healthcare and manpower efficiency, cost reduction, sustainability and most importantly improved patient care and safety,” she said.
She added, “Mas maraming higher level hospitals, mas maraming mabibigyan ng proper health care and treatment at hindi na kailangang dumayo pa ang mga pasyente sa malalaking hospital upang makakuha ng specialty care. Ilalapit ang mga pampublilong hospital sa mga tao upang lahat ay makikinabang at walang maiiwan – and this is one of the objective of the universal health care.”
The CFERTMC was established by virtue of Republic Act No. 11558, an act establishing a general hospital located at the Government Center, Barangay Carmay East, Rosales, Pangasinan, which shall be under the direct control and supervision of DOH.
It opened on April 7, 2022, as an infirmary that offers various services such as an out-patient-department, 24/7 emergency consultation, fully functional birthing and maternal, hospital admission and ward, laboratory primary clinical laboratory, ankle-brachial index (ABI) for diabetic patients, pharmacy, and dispensary.
The facility serves residents of the eastern part of Pangasinan including nearby municipalities of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)
