More and more Filipinos are becoming health conscious, and an increasing number are flocking to doctors’ clinics for regular check ups. Timely and comprehensive medical examinations have been known to avert potentially debilitating or even fatal conditions, like an impending heart attack for instance.
The rising cost of medical services however is also one of the reasons why people only seek medical attention when their condition or symptoms have deteriorated or have gone worse. This is one of the reasons why Centuria Medical Makati, a 28-storey, 74,000-square-meter facility seeks to revolutionize preventive health and outpatient care, aiming to make healthcare and wellness services accessible and affordable by forging a partnership with the Executive Screening Center (ESC) that promises a practical and sensible approach to quality preventive health care with strategically packaged wellness services.
The team of Dr. Oscar Cabahug has come up with wellness packages that will help patients do away with unnecessary expenses as there are diffferent packages targeted for particular patient groups .
“What we want to do is to tailor-fit imaging and laboratory tests according to the individual needs of particular patients. It does not make sense to advise patients to do the entire range of imaging and laboratory tests if he or she will probably not benefit from majority of those tests. Aside from being impractical, such blanket screening tests will result in prohibitive healthcare costs,” said Dr. Cabahug, medical director of the ESC.
Patients under the age of 50 will be recommended to avail of the Basic Health Package that covers all necessary basic imaging and laboratory screening tests including a chest x-ray, an upper abdominal ultrasound, an electrocardiogram and basic laboratory tests. Other tests may be recommended which will rely heavily on the result of the initial consultation and assessment. All these basic and additional tests are evidence-based, avoiding tests and consequent treatments which are unnecessary, expensive and potentially dangerous. “A test will only be recommended if there is enough evidence to reasonably detect conditions which are reversible, preventable or curable.” Dr. Cabahug explained.
The Golden Health Package for Males meanwhile is recommended for males 50 years or above which includes ultrasound, a blood test and examination by a urologist to detect prostate conditions. Females 50 and above are advised to avail of the Golden Health Package for Females that include breast and gynecologic imaging and examination by a gynecologist to detect breast and gynecologic conditions relatively more common among women in this age bracket. Additional add-ons may also be recommended after the initial consultation and assessment, including gastrointestinal endoscopy, ophthalmology, ENT and dermatologic consultations.
The partnership with Advanced Lab Solutions of Hi-precision Diagnostics also boosts ESC’s practical approach to wellness as imaging and laboratory tests are offered at competitive rates. The center will also be working in partnership with other specialty centers like The Surgery Center, ENT Specialists and Hearing Center, various dental groups, a breast clinic, and an eye and vision center to allow for a greater degree of convenience for patients who may be in need of other specific consultations and/or treatments.
“With the wide network of specialists available within Centuria Medical Makati, we will definitely be able to offer comprehensive specialty services that can be made accessible to the patients availing of the wellness packages,” Dr. Cabahug said.
With the presence of such facilities as the Executive Screening Center at Centuria Medical Makati, waiting for medical conditions to become symptomatic or serious and irreversible has become needless as preventive health care and wellness services has now been made available in a place that offers the convenience of a hospital in a home-like atmosphere. With such an innovative medical facility, coupled with a smart and sensible approach to preventive health care, wellness is now definitely within reach.
