JONELTA Foundation upgrades OPD
Owen Sutarez, MD
Most residents from the Northern part of Laguna as well as in Cavite who are now bonafide members of the Drs. Jose and Josefiina “Nena” Laperal Tamayo (JONELTA) Charity Foundation can now enjoy a more comfortable consultation clinic after having transferred to the air-conditioned rooms of the Elementary building beside the medical center.
Since its initial inception in 1987 at Las Piñas by Col. Antonio L. Tamayo, eldest son of the founders, and established in Biñan on September 10, 1997, the Foundation has now over 53,000-member patient in Laguna alone. Among the benefits of the membership include free consultations at the multi-specialty Out-Patient Department, discounted laboratory work-ups and medications, free ECG and capillary blood glucose monitoring on specified days, and free dental services to name a few.
Among the qualifications for membership include that an applicant should be a resident in Laguna or Cavite and has stayed for a period of equal to more than 6 months, should have not more than worth P25, 000 pesos of total monthly family income, and has no private health card insurance. Not to mention the required need to attend orientation meetings prior to the approval of application.
Members needing hospital admission are classified from A to E, depending on their financial status and other criteria set by the Health Medical and Administrative services headed by Dr. Winnie P. Siao, Family Medicine physician and present Dean of the College of Medicine; and Mrs. Sally Dagami, respectively. Dr. Cynthia Lubaton, Endocrinologist and Professor in the
According to our Internal Medicine department census for the 5 years, Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus rank highest in the cases seen daily at the OPD Clinics, followed by Pulmonary cases. The JONELTA OPD renders services to an average number of 90-100 patients per day.
Aside from the OPD clinics, Internal Medicine residents find great opportunity in providing charitable services to underprivileged patients while at the same time, learning further through management of different cases among patients admitted in the medical center with the supervision and guidance of their respective consultants.
Together with the upgraded UPH-DJGT diagnostic services and OPD Clinics, it is hoped that the Department of Internal Medicine will find more inspiration to continue its active participation and setting of programs for JONELTA patients together with the Departments of Pediatrics, OB-Gynecology, Family Medicine, Surgery and Anesthesiology headed by Drs. Ma. Mirasol Tuaño, Marietta Rempola, Jay Ancheta, Rex Barza, and Emar Custodio, respectively.
Charge Nurse Mary Bautista and Cashier Tess Tayoto, RN with Midwife Emer de Sagun loyally institute the rules to ensure a daily smooth-sailing OPD service. Ms. Christine Casillano, on the other hand, currently serves as the OIC and Chair of Jonelta’s Social Services, attending to patients most urgent concerns on payments and hospital bills.
The JONELTA OPD Clinic is open daily from Mondays thru Fridays,
