Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center received an international award from the International Hospital Federation – a non-profit, non-government organization based in Switzerland – for going beyond the call of duty in the fight against COVID-19.
Along with other 102 hospitals and health service providers across 28 countries, VSMMC received this special recognition last December 15, which was designated as the Global Day of Awareness for Hospital and Health Service Providers that delivered exceptional services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Among all other hospitals in Visayas and Mindanao, only VSMMC got included in the final list and even became one of the 103 awarded hospitals.
How VSMMC got this International Recognition?
On the briefer provided by the International Hospital Federation, VSMMC was awarded because they have instituted changes in the provision of healthcare – from technological innovations in diagnosis and treatment to restructuring workflow systems and doctor-patient interactions.
Mainly, the government-owned hospital in Cebu City was recognized for providing relevant materials on social media and for correcting misinformation about COVID-19. They were able to give practical health awareness and even boost the morale of other frontliners. VSMMC’s Facebook page got at least 30,000 post engagement per week – which was viewed from 45 countries, reaching 100,000 people per week.
Aside from this information drive, VSMMC was also able to address early the need to increase the COVID-19 testing by the end of March by establishing its own testing facility, later on, a drive-thru for the general public.
Not only that, VSMMC also adopted a unique alternative work arrangement for their employees – including contingency plans, hospital zoning, increasing of bed capacity, as well as strictly prohibiting visitors from entering the hospital premise.
Other Achievements of VSMMC
Just two days before VSMMC was awarded by International Hospital Federation, it was also recognized by the Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan spearheaded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Allied Health Organization of the Nation and Heal Ph. Among all hospitals in Cebu, it was the only hospital to receive such recognition – given to frontliners in the healthcare and case management of COVID-19 patients as a tribute to their heroic and selfless act against the pandemic.
The hospital’s Chief Implementer, Dr. Helen Gamboa, was also recognized as one of the 10 Outstanding Individuals while VSMMC’s Department of Family and Community Medicine also made it to the Top 10 in the Team Category.
