Journal Detail Information

1

Cite

Share

Health care durations and health care expenses of patients with femoral shaft fractures who underwent intramedullary nailing: retrospective cohort study.

Andre Bern V. Arcenas ; Noel Rex P. Penaranda ; Maria Elinore Alba-Concha

Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services.2023;9(1):1-.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) introduced the Z-package to provide financial coverage for, among others, intramedullary nailing procedures and implant costs for eligible patients with femoral shaft fractures. OBJECTIVE: To compare health care durations and expenses between patients with closed femoral shaft fractures requiring intramedullary fixation who utilized the PhilHealth Z-package and those who did not. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 66 male and female patients, aged 19 to 39 years, who underwent intramedullary nailing for closed femoral shaft fractures. SETTING: Orthopedic Ward, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, January to December 2018. MAIN OUTCOME PROCEDURE: Time to surgery, length of hospital stay, total hospital bill, total PhilHealth coverage, other funds for medical assistance (OFMA) coverage, and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. MAIN RESULTS: Among the 66 patients, 33 had the Z-package, while the remaining 33 did not. The median time to surgery (19 days vs 24 days; p=0.156), median length of hospital stay (24 days vs 29 days; p=0.546), and median total hospital bill (Php 62,392.00 vs Php 62,404.80; p=0.314) were comparable between those without the Z-package and those who had, respectively. However, patients without the Z-package had significantly lower total PhilHealth coverage (Php 30,740.00 vs Php 48,740.00; p<0.001) and higher OFMA coverage (Php 49,909.90 vs Php 34,409.20; p=0.024), and OOP expenses (Php 0.00; IQR: Php 0.00 to Php 20,000.00 vs Php 0.00; IQR: Php 0.00 to Php 0.00; p=0.004) compared to those with the Z-package. CONCLUSION Patients with the Z-package had a slightly longer time to surgery, although this difference was not statistically significant. However, they benefited from significantly lower remaining bills after PhilHealth coverage and reduced OOP expenses compared to patients without Z-package coverage.
PhilHealth coverage ; out-of-pocket expenses ; medical assistance ; length of stay

2

Cite

Share

Urticaria pigmentosa in a 9‐month‐old male: case report.

Brice P. Serquina ; Nina A. Gabaton

Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services.2023;9(1):1-6.

Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) is the most common form of cutaneous mastocytosis in children. It can be diagnosed clinically, based on the appearance of numerous brownish macules and papules that are symmetrically distributed, mostly on the trunk and the extremities. Skin biopsy is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Treatment options generally include antihistamines and/or topical corticosteroids. In most cases, pediatric UP tends to disappear spontaneously before puberty. We present the case of a 9-month-old male with a history of multiple brownish patches and plaques, which started when he was four months old. He was diagnosed with UP based on clinical and histopathologic findings, and was prescribed oral antihistamines and emollients for symptomatic treatment.
cutaneous mastocytosis ; mast cell degranulation

3

Cite

Share

Characteristics and outcomes of non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic: Policy notes.

Christine May PERANDOS-ASTUDILLO ; Rodel C. ROÑO

Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services.2025;11(2):4-4.

Human ; Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest ; Heart Arrest ; Policy ; Covid-19 ; Pandemics

4

Cite

Share

Community-led approaches to strengthening primary health care delivery.

Alvin S. CONCHA

Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services.2025;11(2):6-6.

Human ; Delivery Of Health Care ; Primary Health Care

5

Cite

Share

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery: Descriptive study.

Kim Recoli S. DELOS REYES ; Orlando F. BASILIO JR.

Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services.2025;11(2):7-7.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic surgery is a widely accepted treatment modality, but with few disadvantages.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the demographic, clinical, tumor, and operative characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

47 males and 40 females, aged 19 years and older with colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

SETTING

Surgery Department - Colorectal Surgery section, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, August 2014 to August 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Demographic and clinical characteristics, tumor profile, and operative outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

This study analyzed 87 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The participants had a mean age of 56.55 ± 11.99 years, with a slight male predominance (54.02%). Most patients resided within Davao Province (72.41%) and commonly presented with comorbidities, particularly hypertension (22.99%). Tumors were mostly located in the rectum (62.07%), and the majority of patients had advanced disease, with 59.77% classified as stage IIIB. Advanced tumor invasion was common, with 60.92% of patients presenting with T3 and 32.18% with T4 disease, while lymph node involvement was observed in 75.86% of cases. Distant metastasis was present in 11.49% of patients, most frequently involving the liver. Low anterior resection was the most commonly performed procedure (39.08%). The mean operative time was 278.89 ± 72.76 minutes, with a mean blood loss of 476.73 ± 341.86 mL and a conversion-to-open rate of 23.26%. Postoperative outcomes showed a morbidity rate of 26.44% and a mortality rate of 3.45%, with patients resuming oral intake after a mean of 4.02 ± 2.17 days and a mean hospital stay of 8.35 ± 6.38 days.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery at our institution was performed among middle-aged patients, mostly males. Rectal cancer was the most common diagnosis, with most patients presenting with advanced stage IIIB disease, and low anterior resection was the most frequently performed procedure. The mean operative time was 279 minutes, with a conversion-to-open rate of nearly 25%. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 476 mL. Oral intake was resumed after a mean of 4 days. The mean hospital stay was 8 days, with low mortality despite a moderate morbidity rate.