MONTHS after it officially opened to the public its new medical mall that houses all of its out-patient services under one roof, private healthcare facility Chong Hua Hospital is now leveraging technology to further improve its patient care services.
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Chong Hua Hospital unveiled the CHi App, the first-of-its-kind digital healthcare platform in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The app, which is still in the first stage of development, seamlessly connects patients to Chong Hua Hospital Cebu, Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue and the Chong Hua Medical Mall.
The app, which can be downloaded for free via Google Play and Apple App stores, features several services including doctor’s schedules, services and facilities, appointment requests, room selection and admission, a directory of HMOs and insurance providers, access to medical records, pharmacy orders, online payment, media and promotions and 24/7 patient support.
“The CHi mobile app transforms the patient experience, making healthcare simpler, smarter and more accessible. More than just improving efficiency, it empowers patients with greater convenience and control over their healthcare journey. This digital transformation is not just a technology. It is about enhancing patient-centered care,” said Dr. Helen Po, Chong Hua’s president and chief executive officer.
CHi mobile app was born amid the digital healthcare revolution that is happening in the healthcare sector.
Dr. Joanne Cosin, the hospital’s chief operating officer, said with telehealth adoption surging by over 300 percent nationwide during the Covid-19 pandemic Filipinos are ready for digital healthcare solutions.
She said patients have already embraced virtual consultations, remote health monitoring and digital medical services and healthcare institutions need to play catch-up.
“The numbers tell us one thing: patients are ready for change. In fact, they are already experiencing this shift, and we must respond. The CHi App is our answer—a platform designed to provide instant access to medical records and test results, seamless doctor search and appointment scheduling, and real-time health updates across Chong Hua Hospital’s facilities,” said Cosin.
Cosin added that the mobile app is also seen to address the challenges in the healthcare sector, particularly in catering to patients in the neighboring islands of the Visayas and Mindanao.
“Patients across the region travel an average of around two to four hours just to access specialized healthcare,” she said.
She said the app can help patients navigate the hospital’s various services more easily.
“By leveraging the technology, we not only improve efficiency, we’re also transforming the very way the patient should experience care,” she said.
Jennifer dela Cruz, the hospital’s vice president for corporate planning and information technology, said the CHi App is a four-stage development project, with full completion expected to take three to five years.
She assured patients that the team behind the program, in collaboration with its local software partner has implemented multiple layers of security measures to safeguard patient health records.
Chong Hua Hospital is a tertiary hospital. It has two centers located in Cebu and Mandaue cities with a total of 1,010 hospital beds, 1,012 board-certified medical and 2,162 allied healthcare staff. / KOC