DDH and COVID-19:

The Official Publication of Davao Doctors Hospital | T2 Issue | 2020

Cover Story DDH and COVID-19: Through the Looking Glass

PAGE 4 Conversations

In the Front Lines

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Pandemic

Features Voice From the Forefront

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Lockdown Musing

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KDrama in Pandemic

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COVID-19: The Choices We Make

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Balik Alay Foundation: Its Role in Pandemic Crisis

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DDH Supports Deceased Organ Donation

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Barter and Benta: Small Business Online Group IT’S A GIRL! DDH Dumoy Birthing Home’s First Baby

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Meet the Experts Get to know our Infection Control experts Dr. Marie Yvette Barez and Ms. Xindy Joy Mahumoc of IPAC

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Community Pulse Balik Alay Foundation, Inc. and DDH Gives Back

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Through the Looking Glass

by: Mirasol B. Tiu

The world has been extremely shaken by a pandemic that is spreading like wildfire causing deaths globally. The path to stopping this scourge is still unclear for all of us, perhaps, until the vaccine for COVID-19 will be developed. While it is reasonable for us to question when COVID-19 will be over, it is also imperative that we reflect on how are we going to view this pandemic – an adversity or an opportunity?

Voice From The Forefront

by: Fatima G. Honorico, MD

COVID-19 pandemic struck the country and caught our health care team off guard. Its magnitude and severity brought turmoil to the government, the people, and most of all the health system. Availability of resources, be it manpower, financial, protective equipment and gears has been the major challenge in both public and private health care facilities.

I am a senior resident at Davao Doctors Hospital, a private tertiary hospital in Davao City. Our initial response against COVID pandemic was to establish and strengthen our emergency room (ER) triage and COVID screening algorithm/protocol as mandated by the Department of Health. Upon entering the emergency room, all patients are interviewed in the triage area guided by the COVID checklist of patient symptoms, travel history, and exposure to contacts with travel history or suspected/positive COVID patients. After initial screening, the residents conduct final screening and proper history and physical examination of all screened patients. Given that the patient history’s may be inaccurate, we became particularly meticulous with travel history. What became our first challenge at the ER level was reliability of patient information. Even one false information may take its toll on the whole community, particularly us, the healthcare workers. Some Manila doctors actually died because of a patient’s denial of previous travel. “ A patient lied, the doctors died.”

In cases where a patient does not pass the initial screening, the assigned resident Senior House Officer (SHO) calls the Infectious Disease Service (IDS) consultant on duty and refers the complete history and physical

DDH Supports Deceased Organ Donation

by: Florisa Castañarez

Kidney failure has become one of the leading chronic conditions that plague the nation and drains the patients’ resources. Long term regular dialysis becomes the only option when kidney transplantation is not feasible because of the absence of related living donors. This is where organ donation from a deceased, matched, non-related donor becomes a blessing. This is true not only for the kidneys but also for eye, liver and heart donations.

When the Department of Health (DOH) launched its drive for organ donation from persons diagnosed as brain dead, Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) rolled up its sleeves to provide this service to patients in dire need of functioning kidneys. To educate the community on deceased organ donation, a team of experts in the field of kidney transplantation came together as resource persons for a symposium. Dr. Ronald P. Tangente, DDH Medical Director, opened the symposium while Dr. Vida Villanueva facilitated the interactive discussion. performed the first kidney transplant in Mindanao; Dr. Melvi Anuta, head of the section of Neurology at Davao Medical School Foundation; (lower left), Dr. Mark Anthony Tom, Medical Director of Davao Doctors Hospital Dialysis Clinic at Dumoy, Toril; Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang, the head of the SPMC Human Advocate and Retrieval Effort (SHARE) and Dr. Louie Metran, the chairman of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Organ Transplant Unit.

Experts tapped are DDH consultants namely (from upper left): Dr. Clarissa E. Arsolon, Medical Director of DDH Renal Replacement Center; Dr. Jose Emmanuel Del Fierro, transplant surgeon who

The Symposium highlighted the fact that one deceased human being can potentially save eight individuals. We can help someone live after our death.

DOH is encouraging families to consider organ donation of deceased relatives, those who have been declared legally and medically brain dead, to help others have a second chance at life through transplantation. Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis cannot fully substitute the full function of the native kidney when it reaches the end stage. It can only cleanse the blood and remove excess fluids. Kidney transplant is the gold standard for Chronic Kidney Disease Stages IV or V according to authorities in Nephrology.

Marie Yvette C. Barez, MD, FPCP, FPSMID, FIDSA Chairperson - Infection Prevention and Control

My residency Because of this knowledge gap of the invisible enemy, so much has to t r a i n i n g be done in terms of keeping the hospital and healthcare workers free in Internal from this virus. With stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) Medicine in SPMC and N95 mask running low, lack of hospital beds, no negative pressure has exposed me to hospital rooms, patients dying and healthcare workers getting sick, a lot of Infectious such is a perfect scenario for a nightmare movie. Diseases (ID) from the most mundane to the For the last 12 weeks, almost every waking hour has been spent trying unusual cases. Thus, I to read journals, research papers and articles, talking to my colleagues, was inspired to go into and discussing the positive COVID-19 cases. I am learning new things subspecialty training about this enemy – things that are rapidly evolving and changing, so in ID. we have to adapt and make changes in our management and infection control practices to support better patient care in our NOT so perfect Thanks to my mentors health care system. in UP-PGH and RITM, they widened my ID But I look forward as the dawn begins because it promises a new day… horizon. Encouraged a new hope that something better will come. by my section head back then, Dr. Myrna Mendoza, I accepted the ID preceptorial training in Montefiorre Medical Center with much ---- anticipation and trepidation. What I have learned there, I applied in our hospitals. Dr. Barez credential includes: • Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Fellowship Training in University But nothing has prepared me with this COVID-19 pandemic that has of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and Research caught every one off guard. This is an unprecedented challenge for Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) me, and I’m facing head on this dilemma that is changing the medical • Infectious Diseases Preceptorial Training in Montefiorre Medical Center, landscape. Bronx, New York, USA • Antimicrobial Stewardship Preceptorial Training in Linkou Chang Gung Thrust into this position of being the chairperson of the Infection Medical Center, Taiwan Prevention and Control Unit of two big hospitals, I was filled with anxiety, frustration, and fear. But I know that this pandemic will test my character, leadership and patience. • Chairperson of Infection Prevention and Control Unit of Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC)

Xindy Joy Ong-Mahumoc, RN, MBA Infection Control Nurse Manager

As the field of infection prevention grows in importance and continues to evolve, the goal of an infection prevention and control nurse is to facilitate the implementation of effective prevention and control measures across the entire organization to minimize risk, save lives, and to manage cost. At DDH, the name Xindy has become synonymous with IPAC as she has been the point person to call for advice and decision making. “As early as January of this year, when the novel coronavirus was a problem in China alone, I already studied a scheme on how to detect a suspect case in the triage. The Infection Prevention and Control Committee ( IPAC ) conducted several orientations for healthcare staff and to the community as well. There is no perfect process, as we had to change them from time to time based on the feedback of the front liners. There were several nights that rest and sleep were quite elusive. My daily routine had been physically and emotionally stressful but I would always tell myself, ‘please, do not be tired… please be strong…’. I had to think of everyone, our doctors, our nurses and other members of the team, and our patients,” says Xindy Joy Ong-Mahumoc, whose loud voice and charming face keeps everyone in rapt attention. Xindy graduated from Ateneo de Davao University with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, and worked in an auditing firm. Finding greater value in human interaction and helping others, Xindy shifted career and studied Nursing at Brokenshire College. She found Nursing a highly noble profession, difficult yet very rewarding especially because she is able to touch others’ lives. DDH has been her home since 2005, making the rounds of medical-surgical units, intensive care unit and operating room prior to specializing in infection prevention and control. Xindy had undergone basic infection control training, and participated in several learning sessions to hone her knowledge and leadership skills in this field. She also earned her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Immaculate Conception. As an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Manager, she demonstrated an excellent attention to detail and effective communication skills since she often conducts trainings on how to prevent and contain outbreaks and epidemics as well as work with government agencies to contain these incidents. She has travelled to other Asian countries and Europe to share her expertise and learn. Xindy believes that leadership should be practiced by every person and demonstrated through keeping both the patient and themselves safe. “With the current uncertainties, it is very important to have knowledge, and even more important, to be able to apply that knowledge in our daily lives.”

IT’S A GIRL! DDH D umoy S atellite - Birthing Home First Baby

After seeing a lot of Davao Barter communities flourish, and chatting with several friends re their “trades” , I thought about setting up a small private business platform for members of the medical and hospital staff. It would be a venue to buy, sell or barter, declutter, find bargains and generally help each other out. Some friends and I also thought that having this would also boost morale & inject some much needed stress relief within the DDH community.

Allow me to quote from a few of the group members on how being a part of the Barter & Benta has been for them… · “Hello po Doc! I’m very much thankful po to be part of this community, (Davao Doctors Barter and Benta)! it is indeed a great help for us to sustain our living despite this season of hardship, especially us mommies who just gave birth during this pandemic. What I like about, is that I am able to sell my products to my friends and colleagues and was able to enjoy as well the products they offer. It also gives us, small and new entrepreneurs, an avenue to present and sell our own products without the hassle of deliveries. Thank you so much admin! May we continue to support each other as we fight as one against Covid-19. ”

The Cervantes family live only 4 km. away from our birthing home and the proximity prevented her from delivering her baby while on the road.

In a post interview, Carmina and Darryl said that they were very thankful for the hassle-free delivery. The response of the staff was fast and they were very accommodating. The mother also mentioned that the sterile environment and protective equipment made her feel safe. The couple were also privileged to be part of the No Balance Billing (NBB) promotional campaign for the first five deliveries. “They were only one phone call away. We are very thankful to have given birth at Davao Doctors Hospital. The Dumoy Satellite Birthing Home service gave us an unforgettable experience,” Carmina added.

Under the management of Ms. Jurilla Tan-Estrellado, RN, MAN, Ph.D., Dumoy Satellite had been serving the community for 8 fruitful years. Driven by her good business acumen, it opened a birthing home last December 2019. This new unit is manned by a team of trained and competent midwives, namely: Melody M. Baring, Rose Jean B. Espanola, and Mechaella L. Magan, and headed by Cristie A. Pulgadas. The first delivery was under the supervision and care of the veteran and skillful hands of Dr. Gina Lopez, OB GYNE, FPOGS.

It was truly a happy mother’s day as the couple held in their arms, their new bundle of joy, baby Yurica Mae Manahan Cervantes.