CLMMRH to close ER temporarily for PHP 92M upgrade

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) announced Wednesday that its emergency room (ER) will be temporarily closed on Sept. 28 for a PHP 92 million renovation.

CLMMRH Medical Center Chief Dr. Joan Cerrada said the ER will be closed for about three to four months and is expected to reopen by January next year.

“This is to improve and optimize space management, enhance physical set-up for better patient and personnel experience, and improve work efficiency,” Cerrada said.

To ensure continued emergency services, CLMMRH will put up a temporary ER with 18 beds at the Outpatient Department waiting area and four to five holding areas at the Mother and Child Building with 45 to 50 beds.

Patient prioritization will follow the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), with categories I to II and trauma cases prioritized, while other patients may be referred to partner private hospitals depending on bed availability.

The hospital has formalized partnerships with six private hospitals to accommodate its ER overflow, according to Shareen Caelian, CLMMRH chief administrative officer for finance services.

The participating hospitals are Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital (Riverside Medical Center Inc.), The Doctors’ Hospital, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, South Bacolod General Hospital and Medical Center, Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, and Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center.

“Through coordinated efforts and the shared use of resources, we aim to optimize patient care and ensure that critical cases are swiftly and appropriately managed,” Caelian said.

To streamline referrals, CLMMRH has implemented a digital bed tracking tool — the ER Consortium Monitoring System — under its Integrated Hospital Operations Monitoring System, which allows real-time matching of patients to available ER beds across CLMMRH and partner hospitals.

Under the agreement, CLMMRH will shoulder the cost of emergency services provided by private hospitals to referred patients, who will be transferred back to CLMMRH for admission once stabilized, depending on bed availability.

CLMMRH will not cover expenses for patients who choose to stay and be admitted at private hospitals after ER treatment, and only those cases referred directly by CLMMRH will be eligible for coverage.

“Subsequent admissions in private hospitals will not be covered by CLMMRH. PhilHealth benefits will apply to eligible patients, alongside mandatory discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” Cerrada said, adding that additional funding support will come from CLMMRH income.

Cerrada said regular coordination meetings with private hospitals, local government units, emergency responders and other stakeholders are in place, with a pilot run of the patient flow process set for Sept. 20 and weekly feedback sessions to resolve gaps.

She appealed for public understanding while the ER is improved into what she described as a more comfortable and conducive environment for emergency patients.

“I hope you will bear with us while we are doing the renovation,” Cerrada said, acknowledging challenges in navigating patients to private hospitals for bed availability.

Cerrada thanked partner hospitals for their support and cooperation during the process.

She encouraged patients to report any complaints directly to hospital officials rather than posting on social media so issues can be acted on immediately.

Cerrada said the hospital’s capacity is limited but she is confident the situation can be gradually addressed, noting that 50 percent of patients served are residents of Bacolod City.

She said the ER currently has a 68-bed capacity.

“I hope we can be of service to you in a manner where we can provide you with appropriate medical management,” Cerrada said.