The Medical City Iloilo Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for its New Complex

The Medical City-Iloilo (TMCI) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a bigger complex in its current site in Molo district in fulfillment of its commitment to provide the people of Western Visayas access to world-class health care.

Officials led by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog witnessed the ceremony held on June 14, 2014. Also present at the ceremony were Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, Senior Vice President for Medical Services Group, TMC Main and CEO, TMCI; Peter Ong from Archion Architects; Dr. John A. Colacion, head of TMCI Patient Partnership Office; Farah Nennette Olipendo, TMCI NursingService Director, and other TMCI managers, staff and patient partners.

TMC Main was represented at the event by Virginia B. Alano, SVP for Patient Services Group; Margaret A. Bengzon, Strategic Services Group Head; Jose Xavier Gonzales, Director-Treasurer; and Engr. Gil Palcone, AVP for Biomedical Engineering and Health Physics Department.CI and Senior Vice President for Medical Services Group, TMC Main

The program began with a special performance from Tribe Panayanon which showcased the rich culture and heritage of the Ilonggos. The Iloilo City National High School Choir led the singing of the national anthem and the song of praise. Remarks were provided by Governor Defensor, Mayor Mabilog, Dr. Ramos, Dr. Colacion, and patient partner Dennis Locsin. The blessing and groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by Rev. Msgr. Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro.

Photo: Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, CEO, TMCI and Senior Vice President for Medical Services Group, TMC Main

The new complex will include a modern and eco-friendly five-storey structure designed by Archion Architects which will expand the current structure to accommodate new medical services, house expanded operating room suites, 126 patient rooms, doctors’ clinics, expanded emergency and trauma rooms, fully equipped physical rehabilitation services, bigger critical care and stroke units, and more imaging, diagnostic and treatment modalities.

The new complex will blend perfectly with the Esplanade 2 which is part of the River Development Project of the City of Iloilo under the leadership of Mayor Mabilog. Target completion date of the construction is May 2015.

In 2009, The Medical City planted itself in Iloilo by taking over Great Savior International Hospital and transforming it into its present form. It is the only health facility in Western Visayas that provides complete facilities for cardiovascular and neurovascular intervention through its state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratory and cardiovascular surgery. Patients from Panay as well as Negros with cardiovascular and neurologic diseases have been diagnosed and treated in TMCI, at lower cost and with the chance to be closer to home with their families, compare to how it was before when they had to fly to Manila for the same services.

Photo: The Medical City Iloilo Groundbreaking Ceremony led by Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, CEO, TMCI and Senior Vice President for Medical Services Group, TMC Main.

More than the physical transformation, however, is the cultural transformation of its hospital staff which is vital to the vision and mission of The Medical City-Iloilo.

“The Medical City brand of health care puts a premium on patient-partnership, a value proposition that puts the patient at center stage, receiving service of greater worth – way beyond the modern technology, the expertise of its doctors, and beauty of its surroundings,” says Dr. Ramos.
Dr. Ramos explains that in The Medical City culture, the patient – not the doctor or the nurse – is at the center of the collaboration. It is a departure from the traditional practice where patients are not expected to play an active role in the care of their own health, and where only the doctors make the ‘right’ decisions.

“With a bigger staging ground once the new complex is completed, The Medical City-Iloilo aims to pursue more aggressively its goal of changing the landscape of health care in the Western Visayas region,” adds Dr. Ramos.