Thursday, July 16, 2026

Training on Technical Review



Today marks a vital step forward in strengthening our institutional research ecosystem. Technical review is not just an administrative milestone—it is the bedrock of scientific integrity, clinical safety, and impactful health policy.

To fully equip our board, this comprehensive workshop will cover a rigorous and diverse lineup of methodologies and essentials. Over the course of this training, we will dive into:

Core Study Designs: Epidemiological studies, experimental research, case reports, and the intricacies of qualitative and mixed methods.

Evidence Synthesis: The systematic approaches of meta-analyses and systematic reviews.

Operational Foundations: Advanced sampling designs, robust data collection, and rigorous data analysis.

Governance & Integrity: Ethics in health research and the foundational principles of effective research technical review itself.

The ultimate goal of this extensive curriculum is to cultivate an enabling environment for research to thrive. By sharpening our collective lens, we ensure that every protocol emerging from our institution is scientifically sound, ethically grounded, and ready to transform healthcare delivery.

Let us embark on this learning experience with a shared vision of excellence. Because here at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, we hold ourselves to the highest standards—kay dinhi sa Sotto, kalidad nga serbisyo among garbo!

Once again, a warm welcome to you all, and let us have a productive and insightful training workshop!

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Turning DATA into Deliverables



Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics (QMPS)

VSMMC Auditorium

​Colleagues, partners in health, and fellow champions for mothers and babies, good afternoon.

​As we bring today's Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics conference to a close, I want to ground us in why we gathered here in the VSMMC Auditorium. We are not here simply to look at slides, analyze charts, or file away numbers.

​Behind every single data point we discussed today is a mother’s life, a family’s future, and a baby’s first breath.

​To truly move the needle and achieve our ultimate goal—reducing maternal, neonatal, and perinatal mortalities here in Cebu and the wider Central Visayas region—we must transition from passive observation to decisive action. Starting today, our approach shifts to a rigorous three-step framework:

​Our Three-Step Commitment


1.  Bravely Publish One Consolidated Data Set

Immediate

We will no longer keep our findings in silos. We commit to bravely publishing one unified, transparent data set. True progress begins with radical clinical honesty. By laying bare our actual numbers, we invite accountability and build a clear baseline for intervention.

2.  Strategically Execute One Unified Action Plan

Next 30 Days

We will design and implement a highly focused action plan specifically targeted to address the systemic and clinical gaps we identified today. This plan will outline clear responsibilities, practical clinical pathways, and direct interventions.

3.  Deliver One Platform Accomplishment Report

At Day 90

Ninety days from now, we will document and present a formal accomplishment report. This will not be a report of intentions, but a hard-data record of tangible results, tracking exactly what changed because of our actions.

Completing the Circle of Care

​Data is only as powerful as the area it represents. To save every mother and child, we must see the whole picture.

​We extend an urgent and open invitation to our partners across the healthcare ecosystem to complete this circle of maternal and neonatal data in Central Visayas:

​Our Provincial and City Health Officers: To bridge hospital outcomes with community-level primary care.

​The POGS Representatives of Private Hospitals: To ensure that private sector clinical realities are integrated with public sector efforts.

​The Midwives Association: Whose members stand on the absolute front lines of maternal health, witnessing the first signs of complication.

​The Department of Health (DOH): We look forward to having our DOH representatives at the table to share their data and provide the high-level guidance necessary to align our regional interventions.

​Looking Forward: Concrete Next Steps

​We are not waiting to take action. We have two crucial milestones marked on our calendar:

​1. Preeclampsia Postgraduate Course & Workshop (October 22, 2026)

​Hypertensive complications of pregnancy remain one of our most formidable adversaries. This October, we will host a specialized postgraduate course and workshop dedicated entirely to managing preeclampsia. This clinical training will equip our doctors and midwives with the latest evidence-based protocols to intervene early and prevent avoidable tragedies.

​2. The Next QMPS (October 16, 2026)

​We will reconvene right here in the VSMMC Auditorium on October 16 for our next Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics review. On that day, we will look at the direct impact of our 90-day progress report, evaluate our interventions, and welcome our expanded circle of partners.

​Thank you for your tireless dedication, your clinical excellence, and your refusal to accept preventable losses. Let’s bring this data to life, execute our plans, and work hand-in-hand.

​Let’s do this and save our mothers and babies!

Friday, June 5, 2026

Remembrance

These past few nights I've been dreaming of dead people: my paternal grandmother driving me around, my father driving me to New York harbor...

I am suddenly reminiscent of the 30-minute long phone calls with my seniors Dr Helen Amorin and Dr Kristina Dosdos, as I accidentally came across greeting cards that I received from them a few years back.  I took pictures so that I preserve the memory of their touching inspirational messages.


Behold the beautiful handwriting of Dr Helen Amorin.




See the artistic calligraphy of Dr Kristina Dosdos


Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Bakit maraming tao ayaw sa iyo?


Real talk lang...

 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CocUD954n/


Ang taong may purpose mahirap hilahin pababa...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1B71yfzwhX/


You dont always need to share your side of the story...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17tLZcfAz2/

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era


I had to ask AI for help with this #HealthXPH topic because I am absolutely exhausted after a day of testing patients for HIV today at Argao.  Counselling can be quite draining, but I hope the patients appreciate the effort we put in.  Tonight I wanted to discuss about SATISFACTION.



The topic of Patient Satisfaction is a gold mine because it sits right at the intersection of clinical outcomes, digital health, and the Filipino patient experience.  In healthcare, satisfaction isn't just about "service with a smile"; it’s a critical metric for adherence and health literacy. 

​🏥 Theme: Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era

T1.  How do we define patient satisfaction both from the patient side and the healthcare provider side?


​​Defining Satisfaction in the Local Context.  Is "Patient Satisfaction" the same as "Patient Experience"? In the Philippines, how much do cultural factors like malasakit (compassion) and pakikisama (getting along) outweigh technical efficiency in a patient's satisfaction score?

​The Healthcare Worker’s Side (Provider Satisfaction).  We often talk about the patient, but can we have satisfied patients if we have burnt-out clinicians? How do we balance the "Customer is Always Right" mentality with the well-being of doctors and nurses?


T2.  What is the Role of Technology in Patient Satisfaction?

​Does the shift to telemedicine and health apps increase or decrease satisfaction for the Filipino patient?

​Pros: Less travel time, quicker access.

​Cons: The "digital divide" and the loss of physical touch/connection.


T3.  How do we measure patient satisfaction in terms of what truly matters to both patients and health care providers?

​​The "Pandesal" Analogy: We could compare healthcare satisfaction to a local bakery—it’s not just about the bread (the medicine), but the warmth of the service and the accessibility of the shop.

Measuring What Matters.  Are traditional surveys (like Likert scales) effective in our setting, or do we need more narrative-driven feedback? How can we use Social Media (like #HealthXPH itself) to capture the real sentiment of the community?  Share one "Green Flag" (positive sign) that immediately makes them feel satisfied with a healthcare encounter.


Saturday, April 18, 2026

Quarterly Maternal-Perinatal Statistics


We've been at this for 10 years.  It's time to look into the impact of our quarterly activities if it reduced maternal mortality and morbidity or if mothers and babies are simply dying elsewhere.


 


Tuesday, April 14, 2026

HIV Treatment Hubs

It is always nice to see fellow advocates of PLHIVs and 


With luminary Dr Elfleda Hernandez guiding us.