• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The newly renovated Emergency Department of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) is officially set to reopen next week, following a P92-million upgrade.
The healthcare facility features specialized units designed to streamline patient care, including a trauma bay, animal bite treatment center, critical care, pediatrics, decontamination room, and medication prep room.
Significant upgrades also include the addition of restrooms, a dedicated equipment room, more strategic placement of the billing area closer to the admitting section for better workflow, CCTV, Wi-Fi, and smoke detectors.
The facility also features a new centralized oxygen piping system in the walls and ceilings, along with improved ventilation and the general structural enhancements.
Chief of the Medical Professional Staff Dr. Jet Masa said that it has a 65 hospital bed capacity but it can be maximized to 120, noting that hospital records indicate daily traffic remains high, with 80 to 100 patients seeking medical attention.
He added that while the physical dimensions of the department remain the same, the renovation was designed to maximize every inch of the area to make the layout more organized and efficient.
Medical Center Chief Dr. Joan Cerrada explained that the hospital is currently finishing final touches this weekend and is waiting for the approval of the occupancy permit before the facility can begin operations.
A total of 111 institutional workers are assigned in the area, including 69 nurses and 40 resident doctors.*
