OHCC referrals processing faster with less COVID-19 cases –exec

The One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) could now process more hospital referrals following the recent decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, one of its medical officers said Friday.

"Kung ikukumpara po natin 'yung surge last August and September, 'di hamak na since noong last week of September and the start of October, mas mabilis and mas madami na po kaming nare-refer sa mga hospital ngayon. Nakatulong din po 'yung pagbaba ng case, lalo na po dito sa NCR," said OHCC Medical Officer III Dr. Marylaine Padlan at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Comparing our pace during the surge in August and September, our processing now is faster and allowing us to do more referrals to hospitals, especially in the last week of September and the start of October. The drop in the number of cases here in NCR has helped us.)

Padlan said the implementation of the alert level system in NCR benefitted their services as COVID-19 cases were controlled on the ground.

"Nakita naman natin bumababa ang daily cases natin, so mas kumonti ang nagre-require ng isolation facilities or ng hospitalization," she said.

(We have seen a decrease in our daily cases, so there are fewer people requiring isolation facilities or hospitalization.)

"But in our perspective, it is difficult to be complacent. We still need to be careful because the change of the alert level system means people will become more mobile," Padlan added, saying that minimum health protocols should still be maintained.

The OHCC is the government's referral system for healthcare providers that also offers telemedicine services.

Padlan said they continued to receive an average of 200 to 300 calls per day, mostly coming from NCR.

Following the decline of COVID-19 cases, Padlan said calls regarding non-COVID-19 concerns increased, particularly chronic diseases such as cancer and kidney diseases. —LBG, GMA News