President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the 38th Anniversary of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and Blessing and Inauguration ceremony of the expanded PHC Operating Room Complex at East Avenue, Quezon City on Friday (February 15). With the theme: “Hawak Kamay para sa Kalusugan”. PHC is a leader in upholding the highest standards of cardiovascular care, a self-reliant institution responsive to the health needs of the Filipino people. It ranks as one of the leading medical institutions in Asia for the medical and surgical treatment of heart diseases. Since its establishment, over two million indigent patients have been served by PHC. In photo are House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Health Secretary Enrique Ona, PHC executive director Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco, Jr. and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. (MNS photo)
President Benigno S. Aquino III undrapes the marker of the expanded Philippine Heart Center (PHC) Operating Room Complex during its 38th Anniversary at East Avenue, Quezon City on Friday (February 15). With the theme: “Hawak Kamay para sa Kalusugan”. PHC is the leader in upholding the highest standards of cardiovascular care, a self-reliant institution responsive to the health needs of the Filipino people. It ranks as one of the leading medical institutions in Asia for the medical and surgical treatment of heart diseases. Since its establishment, over two million indigent patients have been served by PHC. In photo are House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III formally led the inauguration of the state-of-the art facilities of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in celebration of the government hospital’s 38th anniversary at East Avenue in Quezon City on Friday.
The Chief Executive, assisted by Health Secretary Enrique Ona unveiled the marker of the newly expanded Philippine Heart Center Operating Room Complex. This year’s PHC anniversary theme is “Hawak Kamay Para sa Kalusugan.”
The newly-inaugurated Hybrid Operating Room, located on the 2nd floor of the hospital, is the most advanced operating suite in the country to date. The facility allows the cardiovascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists and radiologists and the cardiovascular healthcare team to perform combined open, minimally invasive and catheter-based procedures in the same operative setting.
The President also formally opened other facilities namely, the dedicated Pediatric Cardiovascular Operating Room, new General Surgery Operating Room, Endoscopic and Special Procedures Operating Room.
The entire Operating Room Complex of the Philippine Heart Center now includes 10 operating rooms, eight of which were dedicated for cardiovascular surgery.
The Pediatric CV Operating Room aims to increase the number of children that the Heart Center can treat with heart surgery. It has only Intraoperative Transesophageal echo 3D TEE for infants, neonates, young children and adolescents in the country.
Following the unveiling ceremony, the President toured and inspected the hospital facilities and then proceeded to the Dr. Avelino P. Altura Hall where he attended the anniversary’s program.
The Philippine Heart Center had earlier launched three top-of-line cath labs and life support training programs that have earned for the government’s hospital the status of an internationally certified life support training center.
As a beneficiary of President Aquino’s Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Program also known as Universal Health Program, the PHC became the first hospital to have a Hybrid Operating Room that is equipped with built-in robotic imaging systems for advanced cardiovascular procedures.
For his part, Dr. Gerardo “Gerry” S. Manzo, PHC Assistant Director Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer said other facility improvements of the hospital have recently been completed, including the total renovation of the original Presidential Suite, a Wellness Clinic to take care of outpatient check-up services, and a new Children’s Ward.
The PHC is also currently constructing 38 new “garden villa-type” rooms on the roof deck of the hospital and a hospital cafeteria to better cater to the dinning needs of PHC staff, patients and visitors.
It will soon start constructing the 3rd level at the PHC Annex intended for the expansion of the Service/PhilHealth Wards, the renal and metabolic dialysis unit, a ‘one-stop shop’ cardiovascular diagnostic area and also a new separate parking building.
The PHC is the first hospital in the Philippines to be chosen as pilot organization of the Qmentum Program of Accreditation Canada International recognizing that the PHC Quality of healthcare is at the level of international best practices. It is the first hospital in Asia and second to the world to use the Philips HealWell lighting system that programs the circadian rhythm in patients’ room to promote healing.
Present during the event were House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, PHC Executive Director Dr. Manuel T. Chua Chiaco Jr., Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, among others. (MNS)