A Primary Hospital situated in Bandung Village, Barangay VII, Victorias City, about 34 kilometers North of Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental Province. The hospital has a total bed capacity of 24, divided into Male Medical Ward (6 Beds), Female Medical Ward (5 Beds), Pedia Ward (6 Beds), 6 Private Rooms, 1 Labor Room, Delivery Room, OPD, and Emergency Room. The hospital holds a license as a Primary Hospital and also has a Licensed Secondary Laboratory.
This is run by a Foundation, a non-government organization composed of the Board of Trustees. Their target clientele is the neighboring towns of EB Magalona and Manapla and they are more concentrated to provide services in the city itself, Victorias City. The ICHC provides Integrated Medical Services Program comprising the following service components: In-Patient services, as in house service catering to the needs of patients admitted for treatment and Emergency services that provide first aid treatment and medical attention to emergency calling for immediate medical and surgical assistance.
In collaboration with the City of Victorias, ambulance service is provided upon request. At the community level, the Mobile Health Clinic caters to residents in remote sugarcane plantations and barangays by offering basic health services. Referrals for high risk and special cases that exceed the medical staff’s capabilities are another crucial part of ICHC’s medical services. These cases are then referred for admission to either private or government hospitals in Silay and Bacolod, the capital city.
Victorias City is home to a population of 92,000 individuals and spans across an area of 13,392 hectares. The city consists of 26 barangays, with 8 located in the poblacion, 10 within the Victorias Milling Company, Inc. (VMC) compound, and the rest situated in rural areas. The residents predominantly identify as Catholic, although there are also members from various other sectarian denominations. The primary sources of income in Victorious City stem from multiple sectors such as the sugar industry (including haciendas and sugar central), fishing, agricultural production, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Immaculate Conception Health Center (ICHC) is a Primary Hospital with a 24-bed capacity. The Chief Nurse, who also serves as the Head Nurse, is responsible for arranging and scheduling the staff on duty. The Head Nurse and her staff are typically assigned to various areas, including Wards, Private Rooms, the Labor Room, Delivery Room, OPD, and ER.
Each shift consists of a mix of Nurses and Nursing Attendants, along with a 24-hour contractual doctor. For each shift, there must be one Regular staff Nurse, one Casual Nurse, and one Nursing Attendant on duty in addition to nurse volunteers. If there are any absences, the Head Nurse will either extend the hours of the nurse currently on duty or contact other casual or regular nurses to fill in.
In this particular setup, they utilize Functional Nursing as a model of care or approach. On weekdays, the volunteer nurse assumes the role of medication nurse, while the regular nurse becomes the charge nurse for various areas such as the Wards, Private Rooms, Labor Room, and Delivery Room. Occasionally, the Head Nurse assists the Charge Nurse and accompanies doctors during rounds. The Contractual Nurse is assigned to the ER and OPD. Another volunteer nurse focuses on bedside nursing.
The Nursing attendant is responsible for monitoring vital signs, input and output, and occasionally assisting the Bedside nurse. They cover work in the wards, private rooms, and ER/OPD. The nurses wearing printed scrub suit uniforms are easily identifiable, while the nursing attendants wear plain blue scrub suits as their uniform. The volunteer nurses wear white uniforms. This arrangement remains consistent throughout the week except on Sundays when the Head Nurse takes her day off. Her regular working hours are from 7am to 3pm.
The Head Nurse holds the final authority for decision-making, but in her absence, either the charge nurse or regular staff nurse will assume control. The Labor Room and Delivery Room seldom receive delivery patients unless the on-duty doctor is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist or if the patient is under the care of the Hospital’s on-call Obstetrician-Gynecologist. This situation can result in a heavy workload. However, I have observed that due to the limited number of staff and patients in the community, there exists a strong sense of familiarity among them. This enables them to collaborate harmoniously despite their differences, showcasing visible teamwork among all personnel in the area.
According to them, there are few instances of arguments or misunderstandings with both co-workers and patients. The nursing staff holds quarterly meetings and, in emergency situations, they organize additional meetings. They work together with the City Health Office of Victorias to offer enhancement programs. Additionally, they participate in training and seminars organized by the DOH, and they permit their nurses to attend seminars hosted by private organizations.
The Health Personnel receive various benefits and incentives such as 13-month pay, Cost of Living allowance, Night Premiums, and a 20% discount on medicines and hospitalization for themselves and their dependents (mother, father, husband, and children). They are also entitled to Phil Health Profit sharing and are members of SSS, PAG-IBIG, and Phil Health. Each health personnel can take 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of vacation leave. They work for 40 hours per week, except for the Head Nurse who works for 48 hours per week. The Chief Nurse/Head Nurse conducts quarterly Performance Appraisal/Evaluation for Nurses and Nursing Attendants.
She uses the Performance Appraisal/Evaluation Form to assess her staff’s performance. Afterward, she meets with each individual staff member to discuss their performance and listen to their suggestions/comments. Most of the time, they agree to provide the best possible healthcare services to patients. Any suggestions/comments received from her staff are raised to the Medical Director, as well as any necessary improvements needed in the clinical setting such as repairs, additional equipment, medicines, and other nursing service concerns. The Chief Nurse is responsible for preparing the annual budget for the Nursing Service. Although ICHC-VKLFI is a hospital that primarily serves underprivileged individuals with its motto “Health Care for the Poor,” they sometimes agree to provide waivers for patients in exchange for emergency treatment or hospitalization. They also accept NOCHP (Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program) clientele, which is a Health Insurance provided by the 3rd District Congressman. This insurance can be used after consuming Phil Health, and NOCHP covers the remaining bill, resulting in no out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, they honor a 20% discount for Senior Citizens in compliance with the Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act or R.A. 9257, and the same discount applies to physically challenged individuals.
