The government-run Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) here recently achieved a remarkable milestone after being ranked No. 1 nationwide among all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals for attaining the highest percentage of PhilHealth claims paid for calendar years 2018 to 2025.
Among others, this means that the benefits from Philhealth for its patients are released without delay.
The recognition underscores ASTMMC’s commitment to efficient and patient-centered healthcare management, ensuring timely reimbursements, reduced financial strain, and improved access to essential medical services, said Dr. Janice V. Pagaran-Alcordo, Medical Center Chief II of ASTMMC.
She credited the achievement to the collective effort of medical staff and personnel involved in claims processing and financial management.
‘We take pride in this recognition as it reflects our continuing pursuit of service excellence and integrity,’ said Alcordo.
The hospital’s achievement also coincides with its recent elevation to Level III status, making it the first hospital in the Caraga Region to earn this accreditation. According to Alcordo, the process took a year and a half and included establishing a Family Medicine Department, an operational morgue and freezer facility with a 12-body capacity, and compliance with green hospital standards-all key requirements for the Level III accreditation.
‘Our goal has always been to make healthcare accessible and dignified for every patient we serve,’ she added.
In terms of resiliency, Alcordo emphasized that hospital personnel have undergone intensive trauma and emergency response training, and that ASTMMC is capable of sustaining operations with a 72-hour food supply and preparing additional medicine storage in case of disasters such as the recent series of earthquakes.
Currently, ASTMMC has a 200-bed capacity, with construction underway for a six-story building that will expand its capacity to 300 beds.
However, Alcordo also acknowledged the continuing challenge of a limited number of doctors and specialists in the Caraga Region, emphasizing the need for sustained recruitment and professional development to meet the region’s growing healthcare demands.
‘We are determined to prove that world-class healthcare is possible in Caraga. ASTMMC will continue to innovate, transcend challenges, and strengthen partnerships in alignment with the national vision of Bagong Pilipinas: Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,’ Dr. Alcordo said.