The emergency room of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City will close for a P92 million renovation starting in September, Dr. Joan Cerrada, CLMMRH chief, said on Tuesday, August 12.
The renovation that will take about three months aims to transform the “rundown” emergency room into a more modern facility, which Cerrada said will lead to better patient outcomes.
During the closure, CLMMRH emergency patients will be temporarily sent to private hospitals.
Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said that arrangements are being made for the government to cover the costs for these patients, in a program similar to the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program.
Benitez stressed the need for a simulation of the patient transfer process before the closure to prevent confusion.
“Emergency responders should be aware where they should bring their patients because when there is an emergency, time is of the essence, response time should be fast,” he said.
Cerrada explained that CLMMRH will “navigate” patients to private hospitals for emergency services.
CLMMRH’s current emergency room has a 68-bed capacity, and she noted that in August, the number of emergency consults ranged from a low of 92 to a high of 144 in a 24-hour period.
During the closure, CLMMRH will only be able to handle 13 to 14 cases at a temporary emergency room, Cerrada said.
Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral confirmed that the closure will happen in September after all the necessary paperwork and coordination with local government units are completed.
She also said a dry run of the new process will be conducted.
Cerrada said the CLMMRH is also installing solar power at its West Tower so it can add air-conditioning at the wards for the comfort of both patients and medical staff.*