Makati Medical Center Team

The last few years have brought chaos worldwide. People are concerned about an invisible and unknown foe, symptomatic people rush to emergency rooms in search of treatment and cure, and hospitals are overcrowded with probable COVID-19 cases. All of these were overwhelming and could have brought down any untrained personnel. Fortunately, these healthcare professionals are present to bring order to the chaos.

Abby Laureen E. Enriquez, RN is the eldest child of Regidor Evangelista, a retired Ilocano electrical engineer, and Mrs. Paraluman Evangelista, a Batangueña civil engineer. Abby obtained her nursing degree from Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial Schools - Makati Medical Center now known as Medici Di Makati College. She immediately worked for Makati Medical Center and has been with the hospital for fourteen years. She began as a staff nurse, advanced to Charge Nurse, and was transferred to the Maternity, Newborn, and Pediatric Area, which was later changed to a COVID Zone when the pandemic struck. She was then promoted to Workforce Officer. Abby describes herself as an introvert. After a long day at work, she prefers to relax at home and read a book. She feels that living a grateful life means living in peace, and that happiness always comes with contentment.

Meanwhile, Wilson S. Albay is the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Donato Albay, a retired soldier and a housewife from Pangasinan. He established discipline as a child and cherished every blessing offered at the table. He was taught to work hard. He is determined, courteous, and devoted. He graduated from the University of Luzon - Dagupan City with a Nursing degree. After passing the NLE in 2007, he started working at Makati Medical Center which became his second home. His sixteen years with MakatiMed demonstrated his dedication and respect for the organization, and it became a weapon for him to excel further. His various initiatives include the COVID Dashboard. His strong communication and cooperation abilities were crucial to his success.

Justine Kristel B. Balacano is married to Kimson Jann M. Balacano, an Accountant, and is the eldest child of George Blanco and Ma. Virginia Blanco. As a child, she had the desire for academic excellence and the determination to continuously strive for self-improvement. Justine graduated from Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial Schools - Makati Medical Center now known as Medici Di Makati College. She has worked with the organization for over 14 years. She worked as a Neonatal and Pediatric ICU nurse, as a subject matter expert for their hospital systems, and as a Lactation Counselor for MakatiMed's Lactation Services and Human Milk Bank. She is now serving as a Workforce Officer. With every endeavor in her life, she committed to always go the extra mile and show compassion to everyone she met. She aspires to create change and leave an indelible mark on the world under the direction of her Heavenly Father and a firm faith in her abilities. In her relentless pursuit of excellence, she stands as a testament to the heights one can achieve when passion, determination, and unwavering values converge.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 posed enormous challenges to healthcare systems globally. As hospitals struggled with the influx of patients and the need for efficient bed management, the Nursing Workforce, Budget, and Informatics team, led by Charissa S. De Luna (now promoted as their manager), needed to create a more efficient system to keep the hospital running smoothly.

Creating and implementing the COVID Dashboard proved to be a critical solution. This central electronic information and bed management solution was designed to track patient reservations, COVID patient movements, and occupancy. The COVID Dashboard supported rapid monitoring, coordination, and allocation of resources by delivering real-time data and crucial information, thereby optimizing patient care and hospital operations. It contains critical patient information that allows healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about patient triage, isolation, and treatment plans. It enables the early identification of patients who test negative for RT-PCR, allowing them to be transferred out of COVID zones on time and maximizing bed allocation for those in need of COVID isolation beds.

By centralizing critical information and providing real-time updates, the COVID Dashboard enhances coordination among healthcare teams, streamlining patient care processes, and reducing administrative burdens. The improved bed management capabilities helped respond effectively to surges, ensuring timely and appropriate allocation of resources.

Looking ahead, the COVID Dashboard will serve as a model for future crisis management tools. Its success highlights the importance of leveraging technology to enhance healthcare systems' resilience in the face of evolving challenges. The insights gained from this experience can inform the development of similar dashboards for other infectious diseases, disaster response, and resource allocation in healthcare settings. With continued advancements, we can build a resilient healthcare system better equipped to handle future challenges, safeguarding the well-being of patients and healthcare professionals alike.