Monday, October 29, 2007 Maxey: A model hospital By Ram Maxey Bar None
SOMETHING like 20 years ago, circa 1986-87, the Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in what is now Tagum City, Davao del Norte would have merited the dubious distinction of being the "dirtiest hospital in the country". That's how Mrs. Fe Ayala described it at the time. She was then actively helping the new administration of President Cory Aquino to make things happen in this part of the country.
Mrs. Ayala recalls that when she first visited the hospital, she was appalled by its rundown condition. The CRs (comfort rooms) were more like DRs (discomfort rooms). When she dropped by the dispensary she was told that--believe it or not--not a single aspirin tablet was available. To top it all, beside the main building stood a smaller one--the morgue; not a very inspiring sight to any patient.
Well, that was two decades ago. Last Thursday, Mrs. Ayala was back at the DRH as one of the guests at the inauguration of the new Delivery Room/NICU and Orthopedic Ward/Opthalmology Clinic as well as the turnover ceremony of a Plasma Freezer donated by the City of Tagum.
This wing of the hospital cost about four million pesos to rehabilitate and, along with the rest of the complex, could very well make the DRH a model for the rest of the country. In her brief remarks during the program held at the spanking new amphitheater that can sit a hundred comfortably, Mrs. Ayala was all praise for the work of transformation done under the "dynamic leadership" of Dr. Romulo A. Busuego, chief of hospital.
What also impressed the guests was the proliferation of greenery in and out of the hospital buildings, like potted as well as hanging plants along the spotless, tiled arcade-type corridors and the grassy pathways in-between low-slung concrete structures. The perfect blend of man-made edifices and nature served to give the entire complex a relaxed atmosphere that can only inspire confidence in the hospital's capability to give patients the best medical care they deserve.
In fact one guest was overheard saying that she would not be surprised if a patient starts getting well upon entering the hospital grounds and seeing the well-manicured lawn and ambient surroundings giving one a feeling conducive to healing. And best of all, there was no morgue in sight to morbidly remind patients of their mortality.
The DRH has a staff of some 300 doctors, nurses, technicians, etc. and about 200 non-plantilla workers.
Other guests at the occasion were Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario's son and chief of staff, Anthony Rafael del Rosario, who represented his father, Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy and Director Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial of DOH XI.
