DAVAO ORIENTAL – There is no stopping to the continuous transformation and advancement of the Davao Oriental’s biggest hospital, the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC).
On February 13, the DOPMC has welcomed a new milestone as it successfully inaugurated and broke the grounds for its new state-of-the-art facilities touted to improve health services, especially for the poor patients in the province.
No less than Governor Nelson Dayanghirang led the ceremonies which have drawn a sense of pride and fulfillment among all hospital workers and provincial employees present.
The latest additions to the hospital which were opened on Thursday are the new 100-bed capacity pediatrics and medicine wards, an isolation room for the Medicine Department, and fully air-conditioned and spacious Nurse’s Stations for each of the wards, among other amenities.
New medicine ward 
New medicine ward 
New medicine ward 
Hallway of the new ward 
Pedia Ward 
Hallway
Phases one and two of these new wards cost a total of P60 million funded under the Health Facility Enhancement Program of the Department of Health.
DOPMC Chief of Hospital Dr. Reden Bersaldo said that the upcoming transfer of the patients from the old wards to the new wards is set to decongest the facility, paving the way for new improvements.
Among these improvements is the rehabilitation of all Intensive Care Units which include the Medicine, Surgery and Critical Care, and the Pediatrics and Neonatal ICUs. Another highly anticipated development is the total renovation of the emergency room which is set to be completed within 120 days. The new emergency room will be fully air-conditioned and equipped with a doctor’s quarters and isolation area, among other improvements. Dr. Bersaldo said that starting on Monday, the emergency room will be temporarily located at the hospital lobby to pave the way for the renovation works.
Meanwhile, for patients who need to undergo a test for their heart condition, the 2d electrocardiography diagnostic test is now being offered at the DOPMC as it inaugurated its new 2d echo machine. This facility will be operated in partnership with Dr. Arnold Pacia, one of the top cardiologists in Davao City. “With this new facility, patients will not need to go to larger hospitals in other cities because we have it all right here,” said Dr. Bersaldo. Soon, other vital diagnostic equipment and facilities will be added to the hospital which includes an additional manual X-ray machine for the operating room, an arterial blood gas machine for the ICUs, and a separate ultrasound machine for patients with a high-risk pregnancy.
Aside from the opening of these new health facilities, other new facilities are set to rise at the DOPMC as the recent groundbreaking ceremony signaled the start of its construction.
These facilities include a three-story Medical Arts Building which will house the hospital’s new fully airconditioned Outpatient Department (OPD), equipped with all diagnostic modalities and a cafeteria at the ground level; doctors’ clinics at the second floor, dormitory and a fitness center at the third floor, and an activity center at the top floor.
Perspective of the soon to rise Medical Arts Building
Dr. Bersaldo highlighted the significance of the doctors’ clinics, with space available for rental, as the hospital’s strategy not only to generate income but to also encourage specialists of various fields from big cities to practice here and serve the patients in the province.
Also, to improve accessibility and ease for patients, watchers and hospital workers, DOPMC will soon be equipped with three service elevators.
Perspective of the soon to rise Wellness Center and Hospice for terminally Ill patients under the park and pond development program
Another facility set to rise is the Hospice for Terminally Ill Patients and Wellness Center through the park and ponds rehabilitation program. This facility will be equipped with a jogging track, a boardwalk, cottages, and villas.
With a total cost of P50 million, the facilities are to be funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways as it is being strongly supported by the Office of Second District Rep. Joel Mayo Almario who expressed his full support to the development agenda of the Provincial Government.
A Premier Health Facility
The Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center is a facility that has seen scores of development and achievements over the past few years, owing to the efforts and vision of the new hospital management being strongly supported by the provincial government – all in the effort to achieve the ambitious goal of making DOPMC a premier health facility in the Davao region.
“Two years ago, when I started as the chief of hospital, I already had dreams. Because realities cannot become a reality if you don’t start it with a vision. When I first stepped foot in this facility, I have mixed emotions and yet I already have this vision of making this facility at par with other medical centers in the Davao region,” said Dr. Reden Bersaldo.
Among the many innovative improvements at the DOPMC include its flourishing ophthalmology program which primarily offers free cataract surgery and has become the surgical operation with the highest number of beneficiary patients. Orthopedic services were also expanded with orthopedic surgeons conducting weekly scheduled operations. “Patients, let’s say with fractures who needed surgery don’t need to go to Davao City because we already cater these types of operations here,” Dr. Bersaldo said.
Apart from its improved systems of operations, DOPMC has recently received recognition from the PhilHealth because of its No Balance Billing Compliance.
To cater to the growing number of hospital patients, the DOPMC is looking at hiring additional nurses and doctors. This year, the hospital will hire the services of specialists which include a pulmonologist, infectious diseases consultant, nephrologist, and cardiologist. “With the hiring of new specialists, we will not need to refer patients to other hospitals,” Dr. Bersaldo said, noting this will help patients save money from the expenses they would have to incur in other big hospitals in the cities for the same treatment.
On the other hand, while DOPMC is currently accredited by the Philippine Academy of Philippine Physicians as a Level Two training hospital for family medicine, its long-term goal is to become a Level Three training facility. “Our family medicine training will jumpstart the accredited training for the rest of the departments. We do this because of our vision to become a premier hospital in Davao Region,” said Dr. Bersaldo.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, under whose leadership initiated these novel projects, said he is proud of what the hospital has achieved. He lauded the hospital management as well as the entire Provincial Health Office for its efforts to step up the hospital’s services.
He also thanked the support of the other key agencies, and the local government officials, particularly the two congressional representatives of the province: First District Rep. Corazon Malanyaon and Second District Rep. Joel Mayo Almario, for their big constant support to the provincial government’s health programs.
While he already implemented a salary increase for all Job Order workers, Gov. Dayanghirang is also set to appoint employees for newly created plantilla positions, setting the workers in high spirits.
“I only ask that we serve our people well. Where would our indigent patients go in times when they are sick? The most important thing is that we give to them our best service,” said Gov. Dayanghirang.
Thursday’s ceremonies, he said, is just the beginning of more innovations and improvements that will be implemented to ensure the delivery of premier health services to the people of Davao Oriental.
Present during the ceremonies are Vice Governor Niño Sotero Uy and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Herminigilda Nartates, DPWH District Engineer Jane Cainghog, PHO doctors, hospital employees, and provincial government department heads. By Karen Lou Deloso/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
