SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) suspended their Outpatient Department (OPD) operations indefinitely beginning Monday, March 23, to minimize the risk of virus transmission as the number of patients under investigation (PUIs) for suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in their facility continues to climb.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, SPMC chief of clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) coordinator, told SunStar Davao Sunday, March 22, 2020 that there are currently 21 PUIs admitted in SPMC, one of the hospitals in Davao Region authorized by the Department of Health (DOH) to handle Covid-19 patients and PUIs.

“Dumarami ang PUIs namin dapat less movement kami and patients. But we have one common hotline for consultations, pwede na sila magpa-consult and the 17 clinical department will have their own hotlines sa mga patients nila lalo na yung mga follow-ups,” Audan said.

The suspended services include OPD consultation and examination in Jica Building and the services provided by Health Services and Specialty Clinic (HSSC).

He added that some of their services, like emergencies, will continue but the triage will only accept patients starting at 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Available services are Personnel Health Services, scheduled drug testing and medical certificate issuance for SPMC employees only, Institute for Women and Newborn Health (IWNH), Children's Cancer Institute, and Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (IPBM), and Heart Institute.

For OPD concerns, he advised the public to call their hotline number 227 2731 local 5,000 or 09396133810.

Meanwhile, Audan said with the growing number of PUIs, which put the health workers who are the frontliners at risk in the fight against the disease, their hospital personnel have been advised to strictly adhere to properly wear personal protective equipment, observance of social distancing of at least two meters, and regular hand washing.