PHO defends Badian hospital over patient’s death

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) defended the emergency response of the Badian District Hospital after the family of an 18-year-old motorcycle crash victim alleged that delays in treatment and referral contributed to his death.

The family of Philip Josh Velvestre claimed in a social media post that hospital personnel failed to provide adequate emergency care and that delays occurred while arranging his transfer to a higher-level medical facility after the crash on July 26.

The PHO, however, said hospital records showed that medical personnel provided immediate assessment, administered medications, and processed referrals before Velvestre was transferred to another hospital where he later died on the same day.

Dr. Jenina Canoy, Provincial Health Officer I, said the office conducted an investigation after the incident by reviewing reports from healthcare workers who attended to Velvestre from his arrival at the emergency room until the decision to refer him.

Canoy said Velvestre arrived at the Badian District Hospital emergency room at around 4 a.m. after being brought by a local emergency response team.

He was assessed to have signs of traumatic brain injury, including a lacerated wound on the left frontal area, vomiting of blood, left frontal deformity, and weakness on the left side of his body.

“The initial assessment of the doctor is traumatic brain injury (TBI),” Canoy said.

She said doctors and nurses immediately assessed the patient, monitored his vital signs, and provided emergency management while preparing for referral.

Canoy said the patient received intravenous medications, including paracetamol and mannitol, which helps reduce possible brain pressure.

She added that Velvestre was also provided oxygen support and intravenous fluids, with all medications documented in the hospital records.

Because Badian District Hospital is an infirmary-level facility, Canoy said the attending physician decided to refer Velvestre to a tertiary hospital for specialized care.

“In less than an hour, we already had this online referral to the tertiary hospital,” Canoy said.

She said the hospital initially referred Velvestre to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, which serves as their apex referral facility, before coordinating with other hospitals including Cebu Provincial Hospital-Carcar, Cebu South Medical Center, Chong Hua Hospital, and Perpetual Succour Hospital.

The family, in its post, questioned the length of time before Velvestre was transferred and claimed that they found him still struggling when they arrived at the hospital.

They also cited internet connectivity problems as one of the issues affecting the referral process.

Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan, healthcare consultant of the Capitol, said the referral process continued despite the reported connectivity problem because hospital personnel used mobile devices and data connections.

“Despite the loss of the internet during that time, our personnel had this initiative to use the cellphones,” Catalan said.

Catalan said the referral system could be accessed through phones, tablets, and laptops, allowing personnel to continue coordinating with receiving hospitals.

She said Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center was prioritized because it has more complete neurosurgical services needed for patients with severe head injuries.

Catalan said the patient was transported at around 8 a.m. after the family requested referral to private hospitals.

She added that Velvestre arrived at Sacred Heart Hospital at around 11 a.m. and died at around 4:30 p.m. the same day.

The Capitol consultant also highlighted road safety concerns surrounding the incident, including the reported involvement of alcohol and possible lack of helmet use, which still require verification.

She said Gov. Pamela Baricuatro would coordinate with the Philippine National Police regarding stricter monitoring of underage drinking, driving under the influence, and helmet compliance.

The Office of the Governor said it had reached out to Velvestre’s family but had not yet received a response.

Meanwhile, Catalan said the provincial government is working to establish partnerships with trauma specialists to improve emergency response and management of similar cases in local hospitals.(MyTVCebu)