The DOH Hospital Star Awards give recognition to the efforts of the hospitals in the country in improving the quality of healthcare services to Filipinos.

With the theme “Breaking the Barriers of Mediocrity: The Best Pandemic Responder,” this award also acknowledges the best practices, innovations, and initiatives of the hospitals to shift into an evidence-based approach in pursuit of excellence in healthcare service, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Being a hospital star awardee, it made us reminisce the past on how we overcame this pandemic despite being just a newly-established hospital,” Chief of Hospital Dr. Aileen Brion said.

Brion stated SPH was adjudged among the public and private hospitals in the country according to the criteria set under the following categories: safety and infection control, service provision, customer and employees’ satisfaction, community-based activities, quality improvements, and coping up with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brion recognized that it would be difficult for the province to receive such an award without the support of the leaders in the provincial government.

“It is because of our leaders who pushed us to do things and challenged us to go beyond the ordinary and beyond our capability,” she said.

Brion also thanked the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) of the DOH Central Office for choosing SPH as among the nominees for the award.

Last August, the HFSRB also led the inspection and evaluation at the provincial hospital.

Brion pointed out among the best practices of the province acknowledged by the HFSRB include the “no balance billing policy” of the hospital especially for Covid-19 patients of the facility and the provision of food and lodging, even higher compensation, and Level 4 personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the hospital’s frontline health workers.

Also, the DOH commended the referral system of the SPH with other Sarangani hospitals despite the province’s geographical location, and even the conduciveness and patient-friendly atmosphere of the facility.

“Everything we worked hard for has paid off. When you see critical Covid-19 patients na naka-survive, that is already more than an award for us, and seeing your staff wearing PPEs 24/7 with lack of sleep, doing sacrifices, everything has paid off,” she added.

Brion said, “we in the SPH will continue to do our best to serve the Sarangans and give them service that they don’t expect that a government hospital can do.” (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)