Makati Medical Center was recently named overall winner under Level 3 category during the country’s first ever “Hospital Best Practices in Infection Prevention and Control” awards. The hospital shares the honor with three other medical institutions under their respective categories, namely: The Medical City, Iloilo, Level 2; Juan M. Alberto Memorial District Hospital, Catanduanes, Level 1; and Markvim Hospital in Camarin, Caloocan City, Other Healthcare Facility.

Aiming to highlight the level of excellence being practiced by public and private hospitals in the country, the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), in collaboration with United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) and the Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society (PHICS, Inc.) launched the search August last year. The other partner societies are Private Hospital Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI), Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (PCHA) and Association of Hospital Administrators (AHA).

During its launch, PHA president Dr. Ruben Flores said, “Many hospitals in the Philippines have set the bar of excellence in hospital care, particularly in the area of infection prevention and control, which, as any healthcare professional would know, are the two key elements in delivering the highest level of quality service and safety to patients.”

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

The search is anchored on three objectives: to elevate every hospital’s awareness level on the importance of infection control and prevention of healthcare-associated infections; to ensure that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are properly implementing infection prevention and control practices in their respective institutions; and, to encourage every hospital to maintain the highest standards in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of every 100 hospitalized patients at any given time, 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Identified as common HAI are catheter-related urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, blood stream infection, and pneumonia. Experts recommend the first line of defense – hand hygiene, that is.

“That is why there are five crucial moments where hand hygiene should be properly observed. These are before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after contact with patient surroundings. Do this and you protect not just yourself but the patient as well,” said PHICS founder Dr. Melencia Velmonte.

MORE WINNERS

Participated in by various public and private hospitals, the search had a successful kick-off on its first run. This early, talks are already underway for the second hospital search, which RiteMed has agreed to take over from Unilab.  Details shall be announced sometime this year.

Meanwhile, here are the rest of the winners.  The second runners up are as follows: Philippine General Hospital (Manila), Level 3; PNP General Hospital (Manila), Level 2; Jabez Medical Center (Nasugbu, Batangas), Level 1; and Carmelite Hospital (Panabo City, Davao del Norte), Other Healthcare Facility.

The first runners up are as follows: The Medical City (Ortigas Center, Pasig), Level 3; Asian Hospital and Medical Center (Muntinlupa, Alabang) Level 2; Holylife Hospital (Rosario, Pasig City), Level 1; and Rosario-Espinoza Family Clinic (Malasiqui, Pangasinan), Other Healthcare Facility.

Other than the overall winners, five special awards were also given to the following: Best in Hand Hygiene, Philippine General Hospital (Manila); Best in Environmental Cleaning and Decontamination, Dr. Ronald P. Guzman Medical Center (Carig, Tuguegarao); Best in Management of Infection Prevention Among Healthcare Workers, Philippine General Hospital (Manila); Best in Healthcare Waste-Management, Quirino Memorial Medical Center; and Best in Isolation Precaution Management, St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Rosario O. Dumpit, Assistant Vice President of RiteMed Aseptics, is extremely proud to have been part of the advocacy. “RiteMed and PHA are both committed in pursuing programs that will promote the highest level of patient care. It is our hope that this search will not only encourage every single hospital in the country to carry out good and sustaining infection prevention control programs but we also would like to give recognition where recognition is due.”

RiteMed is the leading unibranded line of medicines in the country.  Recently, the Aseptics Group was added to its comprehensive portfolio of products.