SM Foundation introduced an innovation in the recently renovated and refurbished Baluan Rural Health Unit in General Santos City. The new feature will henceforth be incorporated in all future barangay health centers that will be rehabilitated by the Foundation.
Called SM DigiKonsulta, it aims to help the health center hold virtual consultations, establish patients’ electronic medical record (EMR) which can be accessed by other health centers, and enable enrolment of patients to PhilHealth Consulta.
As part of the health facility equipment upgrade, SM Foundation donated two laptops to pave ay for the digitization. The laptops facilitated the implementation of the patients’ electronic medical records (EMR) consistent with the DOH Standards and a requirement for PhilHealth Konsulta accreditation.
According to SM Foundation Executive Director for Health & Medical Programs Connie Angeles, the launch of SM DigiKonsulta was successful in General Santos with the city’s good Wi-Fi connectivity. She lauded local government officials for ensuring the presence of the needed connectivity. Astrong connectivity is essential for the SM DigiKonsulta to be fully utilized. There are now two health centers with SM DigiKonsulta with its introduction at the Polomolok East Community Clinic, South Cotabato.
The Baluan Rural Health Unit which started as a Barangay Health Center under the Lagao RHU is the 78th community health center refurbished by SM Foundation.
Located in Barangay Baluan, one of the 26 barangays that comprised General City, the RHU also hosts the 205th FTS Wellness Center.
Through the years, the increase in the barangay’s population demands on the health center also grew. To ensure that essential health services will be continuously provided by the local health center, Ordinance No. 32 was enacted in 2015 integrating the Baluan Health Center and the Baluan Community Lying-in. Thus, the integrated facility was established on March 15, 2000 and renamed Baluan Rural Health Unit.
Its coverage area aside from Baluan includes Barangays Ligaya and Buayan. Baluan has a projected population of 12,464 while Ligaya and Buayan has 7.030 and 12,079, respectively. Monthly, the estimated number of consultations is 735. The RHU was able to log 658 immunizations from January-May; while 3,194 availed of the family planning services for the same period.
For its manpower complement, the RHU has 23 staff composed of medical officer, nurses, midwives, medical technologist & other healthcare workers, and administrative officers being paid by the DOH and local government unit; and barangay health and nutrition workers being paid by the barangay.
The RHU was previously located beside the barangay hall. In 2023, when a new barangay hall was constructed, the RHU was relocated to the old barangay hall which was more spacious.
Last month, aligned with its advocacy to help community health centers deliver quality healthcare through the improvement of health facilities, SM Foundation turned over a refurbished RHU to Barangay Baluan. SM Foundation renovated the entire RHU building as the old building was no longer adequate to meet increasing demands and as the structure was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. It is also aligned with SM Foundation’s commitment to help communities in GIDAS (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) that are commonly inhabited by IP communities. The barangay is home to members of the B’laan IP community, among other residents and the barangay’s name traces its roots to a B’laan term which refers to a creek.
The refurbished RHU now has an animal bite treatment room, an enhanced TB DOTS program, a laboratory for diagnostic tests, and a pharmacy. A room where minor surgery can be performed was also allocated. This is an important addition to the RHU as Barangay Baluan is accident-prone. Both the animal bite and treatment room and the minor surgical room will help reduce referrals to health facilities outside the barangay.
