.webp)
Philippine Heart Center. File Photo
By Red Mendoza, Manila Times
SIX Philippine hospitals, including the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), were recognized by the World Stroke Organization and the Accreditation Canada International for their "exemplary performance" in providing quality medical services.
The Department of Health said that five of its hospitals were recognized. They include the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Bohol, Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila. They all received the World Stroke Organization Angels Award for the second quarter of 2022.
The World Stroke Organization is a global organization focused on stroke, with a membership of 3,000 individuals and 90 societies worldwide and representing over 55,000 stroke specialists in clinical, research and community settings.
The Angels Award is an award-giving body organized by the WSO together with the Angels Initiative, an organization that centers on building a global community of stroke centers and stroke-ready hospitals to improve the quality of life of every stroke patient.
The award uses a tiering system based on a hospital's performance against various measures using the Registry of Stroke Care Quality, or RES-Q, and Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke, or SITS-QR, protocol by the European Stroke Organization.
They are awarded the Gold, Platinum, or Diamond-level award based on data of 30 consecutive stroke patients using the two protocols.
The Quirino Memorial Medical Center and the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center were given the Diamond status award, while the other hospitals were given Gold status awards.
Separately, the Philippine Heart Center was given the Diamond Level award by Accreditation Canada International for the third time for its "exemplary performance in providing quality medical services."
The Diamond Level award accreditation is the highest award given by ACI. It measures health care facilities based on quality, safety, risk management and ethics of medical support services.
The PHC is the only medical facility in the country given the Diamond Level accreditation award by the independent, non-governmental and not-for-profit organization.
Other hospitals and health facilities in the Philippines that received accreditation include all branches of the Asian Eye Institute, which were given Platinum accreditation; Cardinal Santos Medical Center; Davao Doctors Hospital and the Manila Doctors Hospital, which were given Gold accreditation.
Health Officer in Charge Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the awards prove that these hospitals offer world-class services and top-notch care and dedication.
"This further proves the commitment of the Department, together with its partner hospitals to provide quality health care to the people. We thank our homegrown institutions and health-care workers for their exemplary delivery of service and care," Vergeire added.
She added that the certification of the hospitals marks the realization of free universal health care services under the Universal Health Care Act.
