- MARIA LOURDES K. OTAYZA, MD, MHA, FPOGS, CESO V
- Medical Center Chief II
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MMMH&MC cited as Regional Gawad KALASAG Winner
The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) has been cited as one of the regional winners of the 21st Gawad KALASAG conferred by the Region 1 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The Gawad KALASAG is one of the country’s premier annual awards for excellent contributions of government and private institutions, civil society organizations, schools, groups, and individuals in disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance (DRRM-HA).
Recognized under Best Hospital-National Government Category, MMMH&MC has continuously strengthened its efforts towards institutionalizing the culture of safety and resiliency in the Hospital and community especially at a time when environmental and man-made disasters or emergencies are increasingly threatening human lives.
As one of the apex hospitals in Northern Luzon, MMMH&MC has regularly conducted major emergency and disaster drills in close coordination with other government agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Office, City of Batac Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and its community partner, the hospital Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA). MMMH&MC also leads capacity building and training among officials and employees of local government units down to barangay levels in Ilocos Norte in line with disaster management.
Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief II, upheld that the Gawad KALASAG recognition would not be possible without the initiatives and efforts of the Hospital’s personnel.
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SOCOTEC RECOMMENDS MMMH&MC FOR ISO 9001:2015 RECERTIFICATION
The strength of MMMH&MC has always been its people.” – Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza
The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center was again recommended for certification for ISO 9001:2015 last September 17-18, 2019 after successfully passing the recertification audit.
Auditors from the SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc. (formerly known as the AJA Registrars, Inc.) were Allen Roy Cruz (Team Leader), Czharina Buaquena, Zyrah Kae Tungol, and Ringo Pabua (Support Auditors). The scope of the certification was on the Administration of Health Services (excluding design) with the objective, to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the management system as a whole, and its continued relevance and applicability for the scope.
On inquiry of, Mr. Allen Roy Cruz on what is the strength of MMMH&MC, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief II, gracefully answered, “The strength of MMMH&MC has always been its people. Without them the whole operation will be paralyzed. They are the ones who make sure that every client or patient has been given services that they need.”
SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc. auditors commended the efforts of the hospital in bringing excellent services to the people and to the change it had since 2013. Dr. Maria Cristina J. Dulay, Quality Management Representative, affirmed that since 2013, MMMH&MC has been accredited for the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Each year, external auditors conduct surveillance audit to evaluate if MMMH&MC conforms to the standards of ISO 9001. In 2017, MMMH&MC successfully transitioned from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015.
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MMMH&MC, PGIN BRING FREE DIALYSIS SERVICE UP TO 100 Ilocanos
In coordination with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) and Office of Senator Imee R. Marcos, a free dialysis treatment activity was held last September 11 to 12, 2019 at Mariano Marcos Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC).
The activity, which aimed to raise awareness regarding the importance of leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle, served as one of the highlights of the 102nd birth anniversary celebration of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who was also a dialysis and kidney transplant patient.
During the two-day activity, MMMH&MC catered to more than a hundred patients who often face difficulties pertaining to the rising cost of availing dialysis treatments and the limitations of health insurance coverage.
Suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), Mrs. Beatrice Caluya, 60 years old, expressed her gratefulness on the activity, saying, “gayak na gayak ako noong nalaman kong may libreng dialysis. Hindi kasi sapat ang aking PhilHealth kaya kung kulang na ang aming pera, wala na akong pang-dialysis.”
At present, the government health insurance through PhilHealth can only provide 90 sessions for every hemodialysis patient every year. Generally, this treatment should be done for the rest of the patient’s life as kidney failure is already irreversible at later stages, according to the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI).
Read more: MMMH&MC, PGIN BRING FREE DIALYSIS SERVICE UP TO 100 Ilocanos
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DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY HURDLES RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
The department’s residency training program has again been given another 3 year accreditation from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology, the only accrediting body of ophthalmology residency training program in the Philippines after successfully meeting the requirements of the accreditation.
The Department of Ophthalmology is the first department of the hospital to have an accredited residency training program which started in 1992 under the leadership of Dr. Camilo S. Garganta. With comprehensive clinical, surgical and ophthalmology subspecialty capabilities, the training program has continuously produced competent ophthalmologists who are now respected and productively practicing in the localities and nearby provinces.
The support of the management, under the leadership of Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief II, evolved the department into a multispecialty unit. In its infancy, the department had a lone general ophthalmology consultant. Now, the department is made up of consultants with subspecialties in neuro-ophthalmology, external eye diseases, glaucoma, medical retina, surgical retina, refractive surgery and pediatric ophthalmology and equipped with state of the art machines and equipment for wide-ranging training experiences for residents.
These developments could manifest a brighter future that lies ahead for the department. – ROSEMARIE G. GARGANTA, MD (Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology)
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MMMH&MC Steps Up Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign
Upholding the importance of breastfeeding among newborns, state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) is stepping up its breastfeeding awareness campaign as it joined the rest of the country in celebrating the National Breastfeeding Month last August.
Mr. Jhey-Ar O. Mangati, Health Education and Promotions Officer, shared during an interview how MMMH&MC has always been recognized as a Mother-Baby Friendly Institution by the Department of Health in the past years.
“We are reaffirming our commitment to this initiative in this year’s celebration of the national breastfeeding month by doubling our efforts towards informing the communities about the benefits of breastfeeding,” emphasized Mangati.
This year’s celebration of the National Breastfeeding Month, which was recently concluded last August, centered on the theme of “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding.”
Marking the celebration, MMMH&MC organized various information dissemination and other activities which included radio discussions, community-based lay fora, and four-day simultaneous lectures at the hospital on Executive Order 51 (Milk Code), Republic Act 10028 (Human Milk Banking), Republic Act 7600 (Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Practices), Zumba Exercise and Breastfeeding Quiz Show.
Read more: MMMH&MC Steps Up Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign
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The Marvel of Newborn Screening Center Northern Luzon
The Marvel of Newborn Screening Center Northern Luzon
By: Maria Paz K. Otayza, MD, MPH, FPPS, FPSNbM
(Unit Head, NSCNL and Chairman, Pediatric Department)
The first time I had a gut feel about this journey was when I met the other unit heads at the first meeting; we were then barely starting newborn screening. The sheer magnitude of the program would faze the faint-hearted. My shield was a host institution that pledged support to it.
My next gut feel about where we were, fast forward to 2019: at an external audit visit, I was pulled aside by someone quite influential at NSRC, was told: You have a good unit. The most heart warming is when I was told by someone at the top: You make me proud. We had faced and aced! the challenges of initial and expanded NBS accreditation, by local and foreign auditors.
Read more: The Marvel of Newborn Screening Center Northern Luzon
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MMMH&MC IS NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARD AND/OR DEBIT CARD PAYMENT
Good news!!!
MMMH&MC is now accepting an alternative, easy payment method for everyone through Credit Card and/or Debit Card Payment! For other details, please see the picture below.
