VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The Ilocos Sur Medical Center (ISMC) in Candon City, Ilocos Sur continues to strengthen its efforts on patient safety, according to ISMC Chief Dr. Angel Trinidad III through the ISMC Patient Safety Committee led by Dr. Tom-Louie Acosta.

“We are working tirelessly as a committee to advocate for patient safety. We do regular lectures, especially on medications. Iyong mga previous lectures on proper administration of insulin and proper use of certain respiratory medications, which are attended by the patients from the Out-Patient Department, their families, and also the healthcare workers of the hospital,” Dr. Acosta said during the special media forum of the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development-1 dubbed as “Kapihan sa DOH” on Monday, September 18, held at the ISMC.

The committee also utilized the power of social media as it created its official Facebook page wherein patients and/or the public, in general, may send questions so they will be answered and acted upon immediately.

Dr. Trinidad said that patients should be informed and encouraged on the co-ownership of health responsibilities, while healthcare workers must be receptive to the concerns of the patients.

Hence, Dr. Acosta implied the importance of reaching out to the communities by conducting information dissemination activities at the grassroots and working closely with the district hospitals in the province, namely Santa Lucia, Tagudin, and Narvacan, not only serve Candon City but Ilocos Sur as a province.

“One of the stigmas na nakikita namin ay feeling ng mga pasyente, if they are in a government hospital, they are not getting the same benefits compared to a private institution. Lagi kong naririnig, “Dalhin mo na lang sa ganito…” pero our vision sa ISMC is imbes na “Dalhin mo na lang sa ISMC” ang gusto namin ay “Dalhin mo na sa ISMC,” he added.

Dr. Acosta and Dr. Trinidad were also joined by Dr. Maria Aloiza Hadloc-Tiu, Vice Chairperson of the said committee, during the forum as part of the celebration of “World Patient Safety Day” on September 17.

Dr. Hadloc-Tiu mentioned some of the avoidable harms, such as miscommunication between the doctor and the patient that may lead to inaccurate history-taking and misdiagnosis, the risk of infection that comes from the doctor to the patient, and the ineligible writing of doctors that causes confusion for the patients, nurses, and pharmacists.

“To avoid these, it is noted to have a good patient-doctor relationship; the patients should provide feedback; healthcare workers should be in good condition both physically and mentally; and there should be proper coordination to avert guessing of medications,” Dr. Hadloc-Tiu said.

A poster-making contest was also conducted to further expand the knowledge of ISMC staff on patient safety, and on Sunday night, the whole ISMC building was illuminated in color orange (the signature mark of the campaign) to show support for the celebration. (JCR/MJTAB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)