Sta Rosa City, Laguna – The Medical City South Luzon (TMC-SL) has launched a vehicle outfitted with medical equipment and virtual reality technology to help experts attend to patients remotely.
It is geared toward for laboratory and diagnostic services such as x-ray and ECG, ophthalmology screening, and referrals to ophthalmologists and other medical specialists for teleconsultation.
Part of TMC-SL, the vehicle brings quality healthcare services to patients and is an innovative step in providing care to all employees from different locators of industrial parks in the city.
These include the Laguna Technopark Inc., Laguna International Industrial Park, Carmelray 1 and 2, and First Philippine Industrial Park, as well as residents of neighboring communities, giving them easy and convenient access to quality healthcare.
“This approach will allow experts to administer treatment on-site in the vehicle — shortening the time to treatment and broadening the area served by The Medical City,” said Dr. Jose Enrico Juliano, an ophthalmologist and the chief operating officer of TMC-SL.
“Every 10-minute delay in treatment for these patients increases the chances of mortality by 15 to 25%. This technology and community partnership aims to save the lives of patients in scenarios which traditional first aid efforts have failed,” Juliano said.
The clinic will have a scheduled regular visit once a week in different companies and communities to provide easy and safe access to health care services.
“We have been very proud and feel like our mobile clinic has met the community need given the overwhelming demand, but realize our limitations in providing access to vulnerable populations,” said Dr. Cesar Ramon B. Espiritu, president and chief executive officer of TMC-SL.
“The mobile clinic is an important priority given the size of our service area and ability to stretch our limited resources to a maximum capacity. We look forward to working with our surrounding communities to meet their needs,” he said.
Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, who led the ribbon cutting for the mobile clinic, has coordinated the provision of a suitable location and the advance scheduling of the people that could be served at this opportunity.
“We were able to organize all of this thanks to help from the community just volunteering their time to get this up and running,” said Arcillas. “It means a lot to bring this to our community. Everyone we have talked to has expressed how extremely thankful they are for the efforts TMC-SL has made to bring this closer to home for them.”
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the city government of Sta. Rosa City has designated TMC-SL as a major referral center for Covid-19 patients.
It has a separate facility called “Complex of Hope,” making it one of the safest hospitals in the region.
The launch of the mobile clinics is considered a milestone in a more elaborate process directed at the most vulnerable communities.
“This project launch could not have come at a better time, where the country is in desperate need for medical support,” Arcillas said.