UPCM Computerization

Wellness, Wit & Winning at the Wynn
UPMASA 22nd Annual Grand Convention, July 1-5, 2007
The Johnny B. Pellicer Professorial Chair in Medical Informatics, UPCM

The recently concluded 22nd UPMASA AGC held at the fabulous Wynn Las Vegas was attended by over 600 registrants and over 300 University of the Philippines College of Medicine alumni. It is an annual ritual of bonding, earning CME (Continuing Medical Education) credits, and renewing allegiance and inspiration from the alma mater. One of the CME lecturers, Dr. Alvin Marcelo, UPCM ’99, TOYM Awardee in 2005, Director of the Medical Informatics Department in the UPCM and the head of the Buddy Works Philippine Tele-health Project, delivered the Johnny B. Pellicer Professorial Chair lecture on “ Integrating the Philippine Health Care System Through Tele-health”. This lecture excited a lot of the alumni. It was inspirational. It moved one alumna to direct her donation to the cause specifically. The project embodies all the ideals that a UPCM graduate holds, to offer the best of himself to serve the greatest need of the under-served Filipinos. This project brings to doctors to the barrios the capability to connect with UPCM and all its resources in the care of the local patient in remote areas of the Philippines. UPMASA has played a major role in its development.
Ten years ago, UPMASA visionaries headed by Wee Besa, UPCM ’67, who was the Computerization Committee Chair then and for several years after, doggedly persisted in convincing UPMASA leadership to support the computerization project in the UPCM. It was a struggle as 10 years ago the cost of internet connection was $550 per month, and a computer cost $1500 compared to today’s $400. Through graduated phases in the project UPMASA built the infra-structure slowly over a period of 4-5 years. The UPCM LAN Project distinguished the College to be the first in the Philippine academic community to link all its buildings and departments together with a broadband connection. Various components of UPMASA helped with the computerization. The Delaware Valley Chapter under Joe Pamintuan’s presidency in 1997 built the first Multi Disciplinary Laboratory used by the Basic Sciences Department where Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry are taught and simulated computerized experiments replaced animal physiology experiments. Class ’71 donated the first 10 computers to the medical library and supported a subscription to Ovid/Medline database, through its EMERALDS Project. The Baltimore, Michigan, and Philadelphia Chapters held fund-raising events to support subsequent phases of the project. Delaware Valley Chapter has its Laptop project for needy undergraduates and post-residency physicians. It has extended its support to provide laptops to physicians in the Doctors to the Barrios program, an important piece in integrating the Philippine health system through Tele-health. Individual donors, Linda Gambito ’66, $50K, Nicki Nicdao ’67, $45K, and many alumni helped. The PEF (Permanent Endowment Fund) supports its maintenance by funding the salaries of 4 MIU employees and allocating an annual $17K budget for computer maintenance and replacement. Most recently, Class ’57, headed by its president Joe Peczon, had undertaken the computerization of the Orthopedics Department Health Records as its class Golden Jubilee project.
The Medical Informatics Unit in the UPCM developed a database system called CHITS (Community Health Information and Tracking System) in conjunction with the UPCM Community Health Department and the government of Pasay City where UPCM interns rotate. The software is in Tagalog, and barangay health workers are trained to enter data in the patient health registry. It asks, “ Ano ang pangalan mo?”, “Saan ka nakatira?”, etc. And true to Filipino ingenuity and frugality, MIU recycled old computers and introduced new technology and new skills to the barangay health workers. This Urban Community Based Health Program over the period of 3 years as a demonstration project, will ultimately reach 75,000 residents in 10 barangays, train 200 lay volunteer health workers, 100 community leaders and local government officials, and benefit 320 medical students, and 50 local health care professionals. UPMASA Southeast Chapter is supporting this project with $36K over the 3-year period. PEF donated audio-visual equipment for training health care workers. This project will lay down the infra-structure for the Pasay City government to provide basic health care to its constituents. CHITS has caught international attention as a model of medical informatics technology and was a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge in 2006.
Bringing the Tele-health technology to the barrios will require upgrade of the 10-year old infra-structure. When the cables were laid down in 1997, the MIU was young and had no experience in building a network. With subsequent increased demand, the LAN expanded without structure and order. The system had become congested and is constantly breaking down. It will require the services of a certified network engineer to evaluate and audit the system and recommend fixes. Upgrading into a wireless infrastructure with industry-grade connectivity is also indicated. The Dean had identified the UPCM Network Rehabilitation and Upgrade project as #1 priority. To have this system running smoothly will open up challenging opportunities for international collaboration in Telehealth. Already the Shriner’s Hospital in Hawaii is about to commence testing its system and many are waiting in the wings.
During the pre-convention activities, the Dean of UPCM Dr. Bert Roxas articulated his vision for the College in the next 25 years, in the Conversation with the Dean pre- 4 Doctor’s in Concert segment. He seeks to restore the UPCM in the forefront of technology, innovation, develop a research program, build academic excellence, nurture faculty and employees, develop sustainability, and produce graduates who are imbued with nationalism and social accountability, rendering service to his community and his country. When we entered the College of Medicine, we were all asked in our admission interviews why we wanted to be doctors. I bet we all answered because we wanted to serve humanity. We thought we’d train in the US and return and serve our country. But of course, life happened, and we got married, had children, acquired a mortgage and credit card bills, and we got stuck. We had good intentions and we wanted to somehow make things right. UPMASA allows us to give back to UPCM and PGH, and to the Filipino people. When we learn of how much colleagues like Dr. Alvin Marcelo make a difference because of the work they do, we become nostalgic of what it may have been for us if we traveled the other road. The next best thing then is to support UPMASA, because if we do, we help colleagues like Dr. Marcelo do the things that we would have liked to accomplish if we did our work back home. Ahh, C’est la vie. During this 22nd AGC, with its theme of Wellness, Wit & Winning at the Wynn, my Class ’67 had pledged to support the UPCM Network Rehabilitation and Upgrade Project as our Ruby Jubilee project. This is a winner!