The following is a press release dated July 21, 2010 by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC):

PRC inks MOA with Big Hospitals

For fast and easy renewal of PRC ID cards and verification and authentication of PRC records, the Professional Regulation Commission forged a partnership agreement with three well known hospitals in Metro Manila.

The newly built St. Luke Medical Center-Global City, the Chinese General Hospital and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center-Colinas Verdes Hospital signed the agreement.

Chairman Nicolas P. Lapeña Jr. led the formal signing ceremony during the PRC 37th anniversary on June 18. Commissioners Nilo L. Rosas and Antonio S. Adriano together with the top officials of the hospitals witnessed the event.

The agreement embodies the strong commitment of the PRC to promote good governance as a catalyst for service excellence as it ensures the public of the competence and social responsibility of medical and health allied professionals working in the hospital.

A few years back, Makati Medical Center, Medical City and St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City signed the same pact with the Commission.

More and more hospitals are getting interested to join the partnership as it mutually benefits the parties.

“We are honored that the management of these hospitals, particularly Dr. James Dy of Chinese Genral Hospital, Mr. Jose Ledesma of St Lukes Global City and Ms. Corazon Consunji of Cardinal Santos is helping the government promote our good governance initiatives. We are doing this in our efforts to protect the public and see to it that the people who take care of their health and wellness are really competent and truly professionals.” Chairman Lapeña said.

“We are also glad that in our simple way, the fees collected from the transactions increased in numbers while we are able to help the students from these hospitals regularly get updates on PRC examination policies.” The Chairman added.

The MOA addresses the difficulties of doctors, nurses and other health professionals employed in the hospitals in going to PRC to update their professional IDs and records. Thus, even at work, their documentation requirements are attended through batch filing.

Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph/articles.asp?sid=4&aid=3698

The following is a press release dated July 21, 2010 by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC):

PRC Imposes Stricter Confidential Room Policy

Effective July 14, 2010, the Professional Regulation Commission thru Resolution No. 560 series of 2010 is re-imposing stricter rules and procedure in the Confidential Printing Room (CPR). The issuance states that the Professional Regulatory Board Chairmen and members who own the licensure subject for the day shall enter the confidential printing room together with the assigned PRC personnel; that they will only be released after one hour from the start of the only subject or the last subject for the day; that the CPR supervisor shall give copies of the test questionnaires (one copy each of Set A and Set B) to the head of the rating division in a sealed envelope at the end of every examination day who in turn shall give the copies of the subject to the Board member who owns it, the following day after his/her subject is given. The policy also restricts PRBs from answering their respective test questions while in the CPR without facing disciplinary action under the Civil Service Law or RA No. 8981 and/or its implementing rules and regulations.

The PRC confidential printing room (CPR) is one of the most important and secured places within the building of the Professional Regulation Commission. It is the place where the test questions in the different professions except the nurses and teachers are reviewed, corrected, prepared and printed by the respective chairmen and board members themselves with the assistance of some PRC personnel doing the printing, sorting and packaging of the test questionnaires.

The quarantine system in the CPR is the first line of protection and safety net to ensure the integrity of the licensure examinations from possible leakage. In fact, Resolution No. 560 series of 2010 cited that there were incidents in the past that encouraged the Commission to promulgate stricter rules inside the confidential printing room to erase doubts of collusion or leaking out of test questions and answers to examinees in Board licensure examinations.

The vulnerability of the pre-examination processes necessitate the assignment of some National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel to watch and observe the activities in and out of the confidential printing room to ensure that no test questions goes out into the hands of examinees or fixers before the examination day begins.

Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph/articles.asp?sid=4&aid=3697

Tarlac gets wireless access to public health
By Karen Flores (abs-cbnNEWS.com)

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s hometown gets first dibs at what may be the start of the country’s automated health care system.

The pilot phase of the “Wireless Access for Health” (WAH) project, which created an electronic health record system, was recently completed in Tarlac province.

Now, rural health clinics in 4 towns (Gerona, Moncada, Paniqui and Victoria) are equipped with computers and 3G wireless technology so health workers can readily access medical records, complete patient consultations more easily, and make better decisions.

“We’re grateful that Tarlac was chosen as the first recipient of this project,” said Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap during the launch of the project late last month.

He added: “By using technology efficiently, we will improve the lives of more Filipinos.”

Read the rest of the article at abs-cbnnews.com

Heat Stroke: One Good Reason to Keep Your Summer Cool
Source: Philippine National Red Cross

Just when we all thought that succumbing to the heat of the summer sun within the metro is bad enough this season, here it comes with yet another abhorring revelation—exposure to extremely high temperature can actually make us ill, or worse, lead us to a rather untimely demise.

Science has it: the human body is easily affected by the sudden changes in its environment, including temperature. And since it is basically its nature to easily adapt, intense hotness like what this summer season offers could relatively push it to go beyond its normal temperature range, which could unfortunately raise an actual health concern.

One of the most common health-related problems known to everyone is heat stroke. In a nutshell, heat stroke is defined as an illness due to the body’s erratic response to extreme heat. It characterizes extremely high body temperature (above 120 degrees Fahrenheit) and disturbance in sweating mechanism; thus causing the skin to dry up and redden, and the heart to beat faster which fosters rapid and shallow breathing.

Given the perception that the aforementioned changes are the body’s normal reaction towards the drastic changes in its environment, most people often underestimate the dangers this concern poses. Some rarely know that this condition is in fact a serious matter, most especially in times wherein the victim is a child, an elderly, or a person suffering from an injury. Apparently, aside from the normal weakness the victim can experience, he or she is also prone to suffer seizures and abrupt unconsciousness that could actually lead to fatal complications when left unaided.

So, in order to avoid witnessing the worst case scenario stated above, you might want to browse through the following easy-to-follow guidelines and basic first aid procedures from Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in response to probable uncalled for heat stroke emergency situation:

1.Move the victim to a shady spot. He/She shall be out of a direct heat source. If possible, try to bring him/her in an air-conditioned room to help lower his/her temperature.

2.Cool down the victim. Do not use an alcohol rub. Soak a towel in cold water, and then drape it over the victim. If an electric fan is available, you may also want to make use of it to help lower the victim’s temperature while waiting for professional medical help.

3.Do not give the victim anything though the mouth. A person suffering from heat stroke shall not intake anything through his/her mouth, not even salted drinks.

4.Give first aid for shock. If there is no suspected head, neck, back or leg injury, lay the victim flat and elevate his/her legs up to 8-12 inches from the ground.

5.Always protect the victim’s head. If the victim is having seizures, always make sure that you keep his/her head protected from possible injuries. Aside from that, avoid forcefully restraining his/her seizure-related body movements as it may result to unnecessary bruises and fractures.

Source: Health Care Without Harm

The Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care:
How health care leaders around the world are substituting mercury-based medical devices with safer, environmentally sound alternatives.

The Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups that works to implement ecologically sound and healthy alternatives to health care practices that pollute the environment and contribute to disease. Source: http://www.noharm.org/all_regions/about/#what

The following is the Mercury Watch Countdown Support Statement that can be found in the HCWH website:

Please SIGN THE PLEDGE to show your support. All you have to do is put in your First and Last Name, your e-mail and an Organization.:

Whereas, Mercury, a natural occurring heavy metal, is dangerous to people to wildlife and to the environment.  It is a global contaminant that causes serious health and environmental harm.

Whereas, Mercury-containing devices although the common choice in hospitals, is nonetheless a potent neurotoxin that endangers the life of people not just in hospital settings. According to The Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care Report, ever since the start of the industrial era, the total amount of mercury circulating in the world’s atmosphere, soil, lakes, streams and ocean has increased by a factor of between two and four.

Whereas, Mercury is fatal when inhaled and harmful if absorbed through the skin. High doses of vapors released by thermometer breakage may cause lung damage. While at lower doses it is harmful to the kidney and the nervous, digestive, respiratory and immune systems.

Whereas, The danger of mercury is innumerable and countries around the world are moving towards a mercury-free society.

Whereas, The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) formulated a Mercury Program designed to raise awareness of the global environmental hazards of mercury after its Governing Council concluded that there is sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts from mercury to warrant further international action.

Whereas, The World Health Organization (WHO) reported as early as 1991 that there is no safe level of mercury exposure. In a policy paper they issued, it presented 3-pronged short, medium and long-term measures that include (a) development and implementation of plans to reduce the use of mercury equipment and replace it with alternatives, (b) increase efforts to reduce the risk of unnecessary mercury equipment in hospitals and (c) a ban of mercury-containing devices and promotion of alternatives.

Whereas, The Philippine Department of Health (DoH) in August 11, 2008 signed Administrative Order 21 mandating the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions by 2010. However, temporary storage of mercury-devices are still to be determined.

Whereas, The World Medical Association, recognizing the global adverse impact of mercury, signed in November 2008 a Statement on Reducing the Global Burden of Mercury in its General Assembly in Seoul, Korea.

Whereas, In December 2008, WHO and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) signed a global partnership to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer, accurate and affordable alternatives by 2017.

Whereas, In February 2009 at the recent meeting of the UNEP Governing Council, more than 140 countries have agreed to launch negotiations on a legally-binding treaty by 2013 to deal with world-wide emissions and discharges of mercury.

Whereas, Mercury alternatives have proven to be effective and the most feasible alternative, given the clean-up cost of mercury spills and the danger it poses to the environment.

Whereas, Mercury alternatives are available in the Philippines and are now being used by hospitals who have welcomed the move towards mercury-free system.

Thus, we, recognizing the urgency of the issue, do hereby attach our name and signature and avow our commitment to HCWH’s Mercury Watch and serve as a watchdog that will guide the Philippine health care system walk through the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices by 2010.

Further, acknowledging the necessity of a temporary storage area for phased-out mercury devices from hospitals, we urge the Department of Natural Resources to identify such facility as stipulated in the DENR-DOH Joint Administrative Order.

5 Careers You Can Start at Any Age
by Jessica Hanley, FindtheRightSchool.com

In-demand jobs often require specific degrees or career training, but you shouldn’t feel discouraged if you lack the necessary education.

Today’s abundance of online education options means you’re never too old to go back to school, and many online degree programs cater specifically to the busy lives of working adults. By working and attending school online, you can prepare for your next job without sacrificing your current income. The following jobs are expected to grow faster than average from 2008 to 2018, and each requires training that can be achieved at any age.

1. Physical Therapist Assistant
2. Registered Nurse
3. Elementary School Teacher
4. Computer Software Engineer
5. Management Analyst

Read the rest of the article at hotjobs.yahoo.com.

“SEND A NURSE” Disaster Relief Fund

National Nurses United has launched a relief effort to send registered nurses to Haiti. Over 11,000 nurses have already answered the call. There’s just one problem: the cost of sending them. Every dollar you donate will go to providing the resources nurses need to care for the survivors of this tragedy.

To read more or to make a donation, please head on to the California Nurses Association’s NNU secure donation form site. More information can be found at the National Nurses United website.

10 Pinoy nurses cleared of misdemeanor charges in US file civil rights lawsuit

GARDEN CITY, New York — Ten Filipino nurses cleared last year of misdemeanor charges for quitting their jobs at a Long Island nursing home have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

The nurses were recruited from the Philippines to help ease a staffing shortage in the US, but resigned en masse in 2006 in a dispute over working conditions.

Read the rest of the article at philstar.com.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) has just recently posted a news release to clarify reports made by some newspapers regarding job orders abroad.

From the POEA website:
The demand for construction workers reported in some newspapers earlier were not for the US Mainland market but for Guam’s planned development starting 2010 of a modern and integrated military facility. Recruitment for Guam, however, is likely to take a longer time due to recent developments affecting the US and Japan on the issue of a replacement facility for the Futenma Marine base in Okinawa, Japan. The POEA also belied erroneous reports citing employment prospects in the oil and gas industries for the US.

POEA News Release (05 January 2010) Job Orders