Congratulations to Dr. Ma. Lalaine Lamela-Teorima, who has been appointed by Gov. Bong Lacson as the new chief of hospital of the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City starting Aug. 17.
LDZDH is the core referral hospital in southern Negros Occidental. It has a workforce of more than 310 personnel — 110 nurses, 29 doctors, including three under the DOH post-residency deployment program, 121 administrative and 31 ancillary personnel as well as 20 outsourced workers.
Dr. Teorima was previously assigned in Hinoba-an as chief of the then Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital (from August 2022 to Dec. 31 last year) and, later, of the newly-opened Hinoba-an District Hospital from Jan. 1 to Aug. 12 this year.
She succeeds Dr. Myre Parpa, who has been transferred to Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City. Dr. Parpa will oversee the facility’s transition from the management of the Provincial Government management to Corazon L. Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.
Taking over as Hinoba-an District Hospital chief is Dr. Nheva Gene Capariño, who was transferred from MJMDH.
Dr. Teorima concurrently serves as the chairperson of the Technical Working Committee of the South Sub-Provinciall Health System which covers the Fifth and Sixth Districts, the two southernmost areas in the province.
“This role,” she said, “is providing me an opportunity to contribute to the development and coordination of an integrated health system and strengthen collaboration among healthcare facilities and stakeholders in the southern part of the province.”
Information I gathered showed that during her tenure as chief of hospital and administrator of Hinoba-an District Hospital, Dr. Teorima, among others:
• Provided strategic leadership in advancing hospital operations, healthcare quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and community-oriented health services. She championed a culture of responsive and accountable public service, with emphasis on improving both the delivery of healthcare within the facility and its impact on the communities served;
• Pursued a patient-centered, community-oriented, and quality-driven approach to healthcare — recognizing that health promotion and disease prevention extend beyond the hospital walls. Various initiatives were strengthened to bring health education, disease prevention, environmental advocacy, and community-based health programs closer to the people;
• Actively promoted collaborative and participatory governance, recognizing that sustainable improvements in healthcare are achieved through shared responsibility and strong partnerships among healthcare workers, local government units, government agencies, community organizations, and the people; and
• Focused on developing HDH as a responsive government hospital that not only treats illness but actively partners with the community in preventing disease, promoting healthier lifestyles, protecting the environment, and improving overall health outcomes.
She has completed the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program, which is designed to further strengthen government executives’ competencies in leadership, governance, systems thinking, and public-sector management. “The program enhanced my capacity to contribute to the development of responsive, integrated, and people-centered health systems and public service delivery in the Negros Island Region,” she said.
Part of her immediate mission is to work for the realization of the plan of the provincial government to upgrade the Kabankalan-based facility to 2O0-bed Level 2 capacity from a Level 1-25-bed capacity facility (although it has at present an implementing 140-150 bed capacity with an average monthly capacity of 400%).
Dr. Teorima views her reassignment to LDZDH as aligned with the continuing development of an integrated Health Care Provider Network under the Universal Health Care framework.
“This assignment,” she said, “provides an opportunity to further contribute to strengthening referral networks, continuity of care, inter-facility collaboration, and people-centered health care delivery in southern Negros.”
Best wishes to Dr. Teorima and other chiefs of hospital in the province as you continue to manage the delivery of health care and services in the different communities in the province. | NWI
