Ospital Ning Angeles aspires for tertiary hospital category

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/11/28/ospital-ning-angeles-aspires-tertiary-hospital-category-444075
• Saturday, November 28, 2015

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY --- The Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA) or the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center is now in the process of upgrading its facilities and equipment in order to earn a higher classification.

This was disclosed by ONA Director Antonio Dizon during a recent press conference initiated by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

The hospital is acquiring new laboratories and equipment in order to realize the vision of upgrading the medical center’s classification.

“When the equipment and the trainors arrive we can already realize the mayor’s dream that the hospital becomes a tertiary hospital,” Dizon said.

The hospital is expected to finalize its application for tertiary hospital with the national government and Department of Health (DOH) early next year.

A tertiary hospital offers medical services and special equipment. It provides tertiary care, which is health care from specialists in a large hospital after referral from primary care and secondary care.

“A tertiary hospital has the same equipment and facilities found in bigger hospitals. At the same time it has complementary consultants and doctors who could look after patients,” Dizon said.

Pamintuan earlier announced the establishment of a Cardiac Care Unit at the hospital.

The construction of the cardiac care center, which is expected to be completed next month, will be funded Geromin Nepomuceno Foundation, according to the mayor.

He said that the hospital equipment will be donated by the World Medical Relief Incorporated, headed by George Samson, a native of Magalang town.

“The equipment came from the World Medical Relief Incorporated of Michigan USA and heart specialist, Dr. Rey Franco, my childhood friend will be the one in charge of the center,” Pamintuan said.

The cardiac care center will be the first public hospital cardiac unit in Central Luzon, according to the mayor.

Dizon said the Department of Health (DOH) is providing financial and technical assistance to the medical center.

Aside from this, several non government organizations are helping indigent patients in terms of medicines and other needs.

The medical center’s renal care unit is presently treating some 400 patients, according to Pamintuan.