ILOILO – To properly manage coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients from this province brought to hospitals in Iloilo City, the provincial government started hiring medical workers such as nurses and doctors for augmentation.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed that the capitol was hiring 30 nurses for the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
However, since the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 has already started augmenting hospital personnel, too, Defensor is looking at the possibility of deploying the 30 nurses to other city hospitals, both public and private.
Defensor also plans to hire an undetermined number of doctors.
He had discussed with various hospital administrators the rationalization of COVID-19 patients from the province to city hospitals.
Two months ago, the provincial government also hired 32 nurses, nursing attendants, and technicians to augment the WVMC.
Meanwhile, Defensor and the city hospital administrators also discussed how the provincial government can help reduce the number of COVID-19 patients coming from the province.
He cited the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district as a “step-down” and “step-up” facility.
TTMF has 163 beds and is DOH-accredited.
Defensor said if a patient can already be treated at the TTMF, he or she can be discharged from the hospital to decongest the health facility.
TTMF can also be a step up facility, according to Defensor. Doctors, nurses and medical equipment are also on standby to use if necessary.
“Puede man step-up, ang halin sa aton district (hospitals) nga dal-on sa tertiary nga puede man naton ma-treat sa TTMF because of the capacity of the facility,” said Defensor.
As for the 12 district hospitals here and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital, Defensor said they are also hiring nurses and doctors.
Defensor earlier ordered the expansion of the COVID-19 bed capacity in the capitol-run hospitals from 50 percent to 70 percent so that more mild and moderate cases can be accommodated./PN