Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health

DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Cagayan Valley Medical Center
Regional Tertiary, Teaching and Training Hospital
Carig, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
PHILHEALTH ACCREDITED HOSPITAL

Ophthalmology Telemedicine
(Best Practices Report for year 2020)
I. Description

The Department of Ophthalmology at Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) is dedicated

to provide service and healthcare for their patients amidst this pandemic. Through
modern and advanced technological strategies, the Department of Ophthalmology in
collaboration with CVMC proposed to have Telemedicine aside from the usual clinic
consultation.

This unique examination was initiated by the collaboration of Consultants and Resident
Physicians to continually provide healthcare services for those patients who have
restrictions and strict government protocols due to Covid-19 from IATF. Nonetheless,
clinic consultation is still available.

II. Cagayan Valley Medical Center

III. Department of Ophthalmology

IV. Best Practices Thematic Area

Covid-19 pandemic dramatically increase in a short period of time. Everyone is affected

worldwide and presents unprecedented challenges primarily in public health. This
pandemic make it difficult for the patients who have little to no access of transportation
to acquire needed healthcare services.

With this, Telemedicine paved its way to make Ophthalmological services readily available
or convenient for people with limited mobility, time or transportation options and provide
health outcomes amidst this pandemic.

The Department of Ophthalmology headed by Dr. Eliseo George A. Ave, Jr. together with
its Consultants and Residents staff decided to create a social media page that caters online
consultation of patients for free.

The Secretary was designated to continually post updates for the information of the
society through social media and to advise Residents when someone needs online
consultation. Consultants and Resident staff were set as administrators of the page to
directly manage any ophthalmologic online concerns from patients. However, if the
Resident Physician on duty needs further eye assessment, the patient is advised to visit
our clinic.

For those patients who wish and needed to be examined physically, our clinic is open
during Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Furthermore, with our newly purchased
OPD equipment, eye examination is more properly executed and patients are correctly
assessed. Having these equipment as aide for eye examination, Residents’ properly
diagnose and recommend appropriate medicines for the patients. Moreover, these
equipment gave us higher client satisfaction in our services and provide proper healthcare
assistance to our clients.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health

DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Cagayan Valley Medical Center
Regional Tertiary, Teaching and Training Hospital
Carig, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
PHILHEALTH ACCREDITED HOSPITAL

V. Background and Problem

Telemedicine is new way of patient consultation but there are still remote areas that
neither has access nor is knowledgeable on this kind of trend.

Also, access on transportation on rural or remote areas are limited and IATF have strict
quarantine protocols. Since social media platform is commonly used worldwide, we
extend our services online in collaboration to other departments of CVMC. Patients just
need to visit our page and message us directly.

Those who have limited access on internet are encouraged to coordinate to their
Municipal Health Office (MHO) for Ophthalmological concerns and MHO will be the one
to coordinate it to us.

VI. Milestones/Results:

The Department of Ophthalmology, together with CVMC are one to battle against the
Covid-19 Pandemic. We assure to provide premium healthcare services to our patients
despite this challenging times.

We used social media platform as the new normal trend and this enables us to promote
correct information and educate our clients about Ophthalmologic problems and
available health services.

We assure that online consultation is done on time and that Ophthalmologic concerns
were properly addressed. We are happy that our clients/patients who reached out to us
through our social media page expressed their satisfaction and gratitude on our service
and encouraged other people to reach us through that platform as well.

Nonetheless, if the Consultant/Residents’ need further assessment, we advised them to

visit our clinic at CVMC.