BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
A resolution favorably endorsing the application of post-graduate medical interns for school year 2021-2022 of the University of St. La Salle to conduct their internship hospital rotation at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital was unanimously approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, its author, Councilor Renecito Novero, said yesterday.
Novero, who is the chairman of the SP Committee on Education, said the interns already started their online flexible learning methods at the CLMMRH through virtual platform on August 1.
He said that in an online course, there is little or no in-person sessions, while in contrast, blended learning is a mix of face-to-face teaching and the online approach that is an option provided in the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges Advisory released on July 26.
Novero added that the method will allow a combination of limited actual face-to-face hospital rotation on specific low risks areas allowed by AMP, such as the non-Covid wards, and participants will not be permitted in high risk areas, like the emergency rooms, critical care unit, and outpatient department, except for consultation services.
The AMP guidelines allow medical interns to assist in time-sensitive cases only if patients are negative of Covid, as confirmed by their reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results.
The CLMMRH has been fully prepared since January 2021 to offer the interns the blended approach as it has fully functioning Infection Control Committee and a Hospital Emergency Incident Command Center System to ensure the safety of patients, employees and staff members, among others, Novero said.
He clarified that endorsements shall be limited to the applicants belonging to batch 2021-2022, provided that the duration of the training program can be identified and submitted to the SP, and periodic health status reports from the Internship and Clerkship program coordinator is observed.
Novero said the reports must be noted by the Professional Education and Training Office and future batches will need to submit their applications pending the outcome of the internship of this batch and the pandemic situation.*
