People who cannot be replaced easily

 

Strong leadership is not always democratic.

PHA Visayas Townhall Meeting

Information.  Innovation.  Transformation. Empowering Hospitals for Sustainable Growth.

Self-Discovery as a Healthcare Worker

I saw a reel on Facebook about how highly functional performers get depressed, internally exhausted and burned out.  This triggered for me a moment to reflect internally on my strengths and weaknesses so that I could adjust the way I do some things in my daily life.

Self-discovery as a healthcare worker is a powerful tool for personal growth. It helps you to systematically evaluate your inner world to better understand yourself and make more informed decisions.  Self-discovery for healthcare workers involves developing self-awareness to understand one's own needs, emotions, and limitations in the demanding healthcare environment. It requires cultivating self-care practices to manage stress and prevent burnout, and integrating professional growth through reflection on successes, mistakes, and skills. This process leads to improved patient care, better interpersonal relationships, greater personal satisfaction, and a more resilient professional identity.  Focusing on strengths and weaknesses considers our internal world before we venture into our external environment.  We can't control what happens around us, but we can control how we react to the trigger.  After all, didn't Michael Jackson also sing "I'm talking about the man in the mirror..."

Key components of self-discovery include self-awareness, self-care, professional reflection and boundary setting.

Self-awareness breeds fulfillment and is a source of power that makes leaders creative, better communicators and confident.  Self-care is actively practicing behaviors and habits that promote physical, mental and emotional well-being to prevent stress and burnout. Self-care interventions has core elements from both "people-centered" and "health systems" approaches, underpinned by the key principles of human rights, ethics and gender equality.  Professional reflection involves thinking deeply and critically about what happened, why it happened, and what can be learned, leading to better decision-making, stronger skills, enhanced well-being and improved outcomes for yourself and those you serve.  This allows us to continue developing beyond qualification, with increasing encouragement for lifelong learning.  Boundary setting is establishing clear limits and expectations of how you want to be treated in relationships to maintain perspective and avoid being overwhelmed by your work.

Join us on #HealthXPH tonight at 7PM on BlueSky  to support this analysis of self-discovery as a healthcare worker.

STRENGTHS.  These are qualities that you already possess:

• Increased self-awareness
• Clarity on values and passions
• Enhanced decision making
• Improved resilience
• Better relationships

T1.  As a healthcare provider, what strengths can you bank on to ensure quality service? 

WEAKNESSES.  These are internal hurdes that need to be overcome and areas for potential improvement:

• Overthinking and Analysis Paralysis
• Emotional discomfort
• Resistance to Change
• Increased vulnerability
• Difficulty with Self-Acceptance

T2. As a healthcare provider, what weaknesses do you see in yourself that needs to be further improved?

Other messages from Jim Katzaman:

IMPACT.  The strengths and weaknesses of a healthcare worker have a profound and direct impact on patient care, infuencing everything from safety and medical outcomes to patient satisfaction and trust.

• Clinical Competence and Expertise
• Effective Communication
• Empathy and Compassion
• Attention to Detail
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Organization and Time Management
• Professional Behavior

T3.  How do you think self-discovery as a healthcare worker would impact patient care?

Flood Control

We have been hearing about climate change for more than a decade now, and it seems this year 2025 we are experiencing the prophetic warnings with volcanic eruptions, typhoons and flooding.

PIDSOG: Preventing Infections, Saving Maternal Lives

Attending the 2025 PIDSOG Annual Convention felt like a reunion of sorts, seeing fellow OB-IDS specialists and learning about updates on perinatal infections, tuberculosis, vaginitis, sexually transmitted infections and urinary tract infections.  I realize that I have put my attention to hospital administration and research for too long that i have become rusty on clinical management of infectious diseases, except maybe for HIV.

Remembering that I was unable to attend the year before because I was hospitalized, made me realize that touching base with like-minded people is a breathe of fresh air.  I had comments and questions about most topics discussed during the lectures, but one thinga that hit me the most was the panel discussion on the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines verus the WHO Recommendations.  It is much like breastfeeding among WLHIV:

The CDC STI Guidelines represent the ideal pathogen-centered diagnosis and treatment.  However, the laboratory equipment and machines may not always be available in resource-limited areas like GIDA regions in the country.  Sometimes the cost of diagnostics would be better spent for vaccination or treatment with antibiotics.  This reminds me of my personal assignment on the STI Handbook which allows our OB-IDS specialists to analyze the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines to select which recommendations are applicable in local scenarios.  I have dedicated Wednesday evenings to finish writing our chapter on sexual assault and abuse as well as critiquing this STI Handbook.

The fellowship night DENIM and KICKS was an opportunity to celebrate and unwind, discovering which of the fellows know how to dance and how to sing unashamedly.  The community dancing was like a continuous zumba session with the dance instructors and the live band.  The drinks were a bonus too!

A mother's heartbeat, a newborn's first breath and a family's deepest hopes

Sharing here the Message from Dr Gerardo M. Aquino Jr, addressing the 2nd Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics:

MAAYONG BUNTAG SA TANAN!

AS WE GATHER TO SHARE THIS QUARTER’S MATERNAL-PERINATAL STATISTICS, LET US PAUSE AND REMEMBER THAT EVERY DIGIT ON THE PAGE REPRESENTS A MOTHER’S HEARTBEAT, A NEWBORN’S FIRST BREATH, AND A FAMILY’S DEEPEST HOPES. THESE FIGURES ARE FAR MORE THAN CLINICAL DATA—THEY ARE STORIES OF COURAGE, MOMENTS OF VULNERABILITY, AND THE PRECIOUS TRUST OUR PATIENTS PLACE IN US.

WHILE PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES GIVE US STRUCTURE, IT IS COMPASSION THAT BRINGS OUR WORK TO LIFE. A CAREFUL HAND, A PATIENT’S TEAR MET WITH A GENTLE WORD, A MOTHER’S FEAR ANSWERED WITH GENUINE WARMTH—THESE ARE THE MOMENTS WHEN RULES STEP ASIDE AND OUR HUMANITY LEADS THE WAY. IT IS COMPASSION THAT TURNS SKILLED TECHNIQUES INTO HEALING EXPERIENCES.

AND YET, DATA IS OUR COMPASS. EVERY PERCENTAGE POINT, EVERY TREND LINE, EVERY COMPARATIVE CHART SPOTLIGHTS WHERE WE EXCEL AND WHERE WE MUST GROW. IT TEACHES US WHICH PRACTICES SAVE LIVES AND WHICH MUST BE REFINED. BY HONORING THESE INSIGHTS, WE COMMIT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT—SO THAT EACH QUARTER, OUR OUTCOMES SHINE BRIGHTER, OUR INTERVENTIONS BECOME SWIFTER, AND OUR FAMILIES REST EASIER.

BUT THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS DOES NOT REST ON OUR HOSPITAL ALONE. IT BELONGS TO A VAST TAPESTRY OF CARE—GOVERNMENT MATERNITY CENTERS, BARANGAY HEALTH STATIONS, PRIVATE CLINICS, BIG HOSPITALS, AND SMALL BIRTHING HOMES. WHEN A MIDWIFE IN A REMOTE BARANGAY CALLS FOR GUIDANCE, WE ANSWER. WHEN A SISTER HOSPITAL SHARES ITS BREAKTHROUGH, WE LISTEN. TOGETHER, WE FORM A NETWORK UNWAVERING IN ITS DEDICATION TO LIFE.

VICENTE SOTTO MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER PLEDGES TO STAND WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU—SHARING EXPERTISE, RESOURCES, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. OUR DOORS, OUR HEARTS, AND OUR KNOWLEDGE ARE ALWAYS OPEN, BECAUSE EVERY MOTHER AND EVERY CHILD MATTERS. WE WILL WALK THIS JOURNEY ALONGSIDE YOU, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, DAY AFTER DAY, YEAR AFTER YEAR.

KAY DINHI SA SOTTO, KALIDAD NGA SERBISYO, AMONG GARBO. DAGHANG SALAMAT.

Lead with Compassion

Bad leaders are empathetic.

Great leaders are compassionate.

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TEACHCebu HIV Hub Caravan

 

We have reached the culmination of our week-long HIV Hub Caravan in celebration of National Hospital Week 2025.  I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and  hope.  Over the past few days, we have virtually traveled across Cebu, to bridge the gap between people and the life-changing services available to them.  We've had the opportunity to showcase the vital work being done by our different HIV treatment hubs in Cebu including the following:

•       Cebu Social Hygiene Clinic

•       Visayas Medical Center Balay Malingkawasnon

•       Love Yourself

•       Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital

•       Mandaue City Social Hygiene Clinic

•       Talisay City Social Hygiene Clinic

•       Minglanilla City Social Hygiene Clinic

•       Naga iShine City Social Hygiene Clinic

•       Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center KAAMBAG Clinic

•       AIDvocates

•       Glory Reborn

•       Cebu South Medical Center

•       Cebu Provincial Hospital - Bogo

•       Cebu Provincial Hospital – Balamban

•       Cebu Provincial Hospital – Carcar

•       Danao City Social Hygiene Clinic

We've seen firsthand the dedication and expertise that these hubs offer in providing prevention, testing, treatment, and care services.  I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this caravan a success:

·      To the dedicated staff and volunteers from all the participating HIV treatment hubs.  Your commitment and passion are the driving force behind the care and support that save lives everyday.

·      To the local government units and community partners who welcomed us and helped us reach a wider audience. Your collaboration is vital in creating an environment where people feel safe and supported.

·      And most of all, to all of you – the viewers, the individuals and the families who joined us.  Your willingness to learn, ask questions, and to engage is the most important step in ending the stigma surrounding HIV.

This caravan was more than just an event; it was a crucial step in building a more informed and supportive community. We've hopefully empowered individuals with the knowledge to protect themselves and others from HIV, and we've broken down some of the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care they need.   This caravan has highlighted a critical truth:  we have the tools to manage and prevent HIV.  We have the knowledge, the medication, and the unwavering support of our healthcare community.  Our treatment hubs in Cebu are more than just clinics; they are sanctuaries of hope, offering a range of services from confidential testing and counseling to life-saving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and holistic care.

However, our work is far from over. Our mission continues.  Stigma and discrimination continue to be major obstacles in the fight against HIV. We must all commit to creating a more inclusive and understanding environment, where everyone feels safe and empowered to seek help. 

As we move forward, let us remember the information and resources shared during this caravan. Let us continue to support our local HIV treatment hubs and advocate for policies that promote access to quality care for all. Let us carry the message of hope and empowerment we’ve shared this week back to our homes, our families and our communities.  Let’s be advocates for ourselves and for others, reminding everyone that:

·      TESTING IS KEY.  Knowing your status is the first step towards a healthy future

·      TREATMENT IS EFFECTIVE.  With consistent care, people living with HIV can live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.

·      STIGMA HAS NO PLACE.  We must continue to create a culture of acceptance and understanding, safe places for our PLHIV clients, enrolled alive on ART.

Let us all work together to ensure that every individual in Cebu has access to the information and services they need.  Let us move forward with compassion, courage and a shared vision of an HIV-free future.  Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by HIV and work towards a future free from AIDS. Thank you for your participation and commitment.

 

No Balance Billing

The 2025 State of the Nation Address was the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Bongbong Marcos on July 28, 2025, at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. The SONA of the President mentioned "Bayad na ang Bill Mo!" through No-Balance-Billing at DOH Hospitals.  These are some of the steps towards full implementation of Universal Health Care.

Join us tonight at 9PM MLA time on #HealthXPH to discuss about no-balance-billing:

T1.  What type of services should be ensured no-balance-billing?  Share your experiences, if any.

T2.  How do we ensure that essential and basic health services are equitably accessible and affordable to those who need it the most?

T3.  With government hospitals still congested with patients provided services regardless of ability to pay, how do we provide sufficient compensation and benefits to healthcare workers?

Health is wealth and should be considered a priority over economic activities.

The Best Version of Yourself

It is nice to meet up with one's former mentees, now colleagues, to discover how they too have experienced the same challenges of being young ideal consultants with a strong desire to reform systems for patient welfare and safety.  However, it is NOT COOL when the pressures of training residents start eating up pieces of you that you no longer feel whole.  This would be the shift from physiological stress to pathology.  This would be the time to take a step back, to review and reassess priorities and strategies to attain the set goals.

We started thinking about SERVICE rather than training, because we can also train younger generations through modelling.  By building a company that targets the middle income women who also need treatment, care and support, we provide for our own needs while contributing to healthcare service delivery, bridging gaps and meeting patients where they are.

Running over the ideas in my head, my dream health facility "Balay Kalinga" or Home of Care would provide the following:

1. Primary obstetric care, prenatal care services
2. Immunization for Filipino women
3. Family Planning 
4. STI/HIV Screening, Treatment, Care and Prevention
5. Cervical Cancer Screening
6. Ultrasound
7. Hysteroscopy
8. Protection against Gender-Based Violence

This would branch out as other OBGYNs join us in this vocation of service to the Filipino women of Cebu, just like our forebears in the Cebu Women's Club or our partners in Glory Reborn.  Remembering also the efforts of Jerson See in setting up the Link2Care Diagnostics Clinic.

The ideals of this company would still be anchored on SERVICE, TRAINING and RESEARCH but probably at a different level to connect the grassroots level with our work at the tertiary referral hospital.

 

Choose Your Difficult

It's difficult to exercise, but the consequences of not exercising is difficult too.

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