The Emergency Room was where I got my wound secured with operating sponges and surgical tape. Healthcare in the Philippines has its perks and disadvantages. Like most Emergency Rooms around the world, the Philippine ER handles critical conditions. However, there are several differences that might seem good or bad depending on the client. This is the process in the ER from vital signs taking to admission or discharge.
Entering into a Philippine ER
- Information and Baseline Vital Signs
Once you enter the ER, you will be greeted by a nurse or an attendant and you or your significant other (SO) will be interviewed. The following information will be obtained.
- Personal Data
- Health History
- Chief of complaint
After that, the patient baseline vital signs will be taken starting with the blood pressure using a BP aneroid desktype, then temperature, weight, pulse and even the number of breathing you do in a minute. Depending on the information gained, you are then entered into the triage system.
- The Triage System
Most Philippine ERs have a triage in place. Triage is a system where healthcare providers try to classify the patients according to the severity of their condition. Usually, it doesn’t matter if you came in last or first place. If you rank high in the Triage, you have to be taken cared of first. The classifications are made simpler with color-coding.
Black
Under black, the patients have major wounds or diseases that will eventually kill them even with all the treatments given in the ER. These patients are last to be attended and sometimes only symptomatic care is given. That is, to alleviate pain and assist with basic functions like breathing.
Red
Patients who need immediate care falls under red. These are patients that will live if they immediately attended to. A suction machine in the Philippines can be used to help remove oral secretions and an airway or endotracheal tube can be inserted to help stabilize the breathing of the patients. Most of the time, these types of patients are prepped for surgery or immediately admitted to the ICU.
Yellow
Treatment can be delayed for one or two hours for this category, but the patients need to be attended to after all other patients are treated. Examples are pregnant women with their bags of water broken but are not yet dilating. They can stay in the ER for a couple of hours with timely monitoring.
Green
These are almost normal patients with minor complaints that can be attended to after four to six hours depending on hospital policy. Usually, patients under this classification should be going to an outpatient department. A person on a rollator in the Philippines can sometimes be attended immediately especially when the family demands it because they think the condition is urgent even though it is not.
- Admission, Observation or Discharge
Once you are seen by the doctor on duty, you’re either admitted into the hospital or placed under observation for 12 to 24 hours. If not, you can be discharged from the ER with take-home meds if possible.
Self-care and DIY Treatment
Filipinos still have a lot to learn from using Philippine health care properly. While self-care is to be cautiously, with the proper medical supplies, one can treat themselves and only avail of medical services if symptoms persist. At Philippine Medical Supplies, we provide first aid kits that you can stock in your home for such emergencies. You can help by answering to first aid emergencies and declogging the ER that’s meant for admissions and urgent care. Check out our catalog and see our other supplies on personal medical care, home care supplies and mobility devices. Just fill up an order and have it delivered to your doorstep.
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