Having been confined at least twice in The Medical City (TMC) in the last five years, I took quite an interest when I was invited last Thursday, March 18, 2009, to witness the reinvention of the Women’s Health Care Center.
True enough, a patient does not need to swing from one department to another anymore because TMC’s Women’s Health Care Center has literally turned into a one stop clinic. Thus it’s new name – The Women’s OSCAR (One Stop Clinic for Assessment of Risk). It is a concept that is first of its kind here in the Philippines spearheaded by Dr. Lyra Ruth Chua.
“At the WMC-OSCAR, patients can be thoroughly assessed for any female health care risk in a single location, as the Center will be equipped with all the necessary technologies and staff, as opposed to relying on clinics and laboratories in other parts of TMC,” says Dr. Lyra Ruth Chua, Director of the WHC. “The new location will also house a Patient Education Area where lectures on varied women’s health concerns can be held, as well as la maze classes, yoga classes, and acupuncture sessions.”
Here’s the video clip I took of Dra. Chua’s briefing about The Women’s OSCAR and its vision.
Needless to say, this means a great convenience for women. I know it’s a classic issue that even confined patients have to line up in different departments for tests and swing from one floor to another. Regardless of the hospital you may be in. The Women’s OSCAR has definitely solved that for the patients of TMC, whether outpatient or otherwise.
I can only hope though, that they will be able to afford to allot a parking slot per confined patient. I was especially reminded of this because the very day that I was there to check out the Women’s OSCAR was the time that my sister has to be rushed to the hospital. She was there for three days. I remember during my 2008 confinement, my husband talked to the parking attendant asking why the parking fee cannot be waived even for confined patients. He was told that the parking area is managed by another entity of sorts. Their current rate is P40 for the first hour and additional P10 for every succeeding hour. Even for people who can afford to pay, I still think this is steep. But that aside, TMC is still the default hospital I go to, when I need to.
The Medical City
Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City
Tel. No. (632) 635.6789
www.themedicalcity.com
