Author: spcmcadmin

COVID-19 has changed the face of the service industry. Those who have risen to the occasion and those who’ve adapted to the demands of a new normal have remained intact. And stepping up might just have been their saving grace — raking in patrons for its mere convenience.

Delivery is one of the components that’s kept businesses afloat. It’s what anyone does these days! But there’s another component that’s directed towards a different scenario. On-the-road customers can choose to simply drive through on their way anywhere to avoid the steep fees associated with getting orders to your doorstep. Here are a few things you can motor through on any given day:

Drive-Thru Food Items

Let’s get to the obvious first. Food is essential and a part of everybody’s life. That’s why in a city known for its food, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of drive-thru spots in and around San Pablo. Even malls like SM City San Pablo were able to allow their merchants to arrange pickups for their customers. Feedbacks have shown its efficacy and are a great temporary solution for businesses contained in larger facilities.

Meanwhile, SMEs like Anakula Coffee Pines Memorial Garden have also extended their offerings to people who are on the go. Items can be ordered in advance and picked up or you can simply, as the article mentions, drive through. Because of this, classic favorites and staples are always within reach.

Drive-Thru Groceries

Speaking of favorites, grocery stores also offer pickups. Stores like Sarang Mart along Miguel Leonor Street continue to provide grocery items specifically geared for K-Pop and K-Drama fans and stans! Red Bean Ice Cream on a summery Monday is no longer impossible! You can even stay productive and do your grocery shopping while you’re stuck in traffic! Simply call or order online from these groceries and request a pickup option.

Drive-Thru Medicine

While technically not new to the drive-thru and pick-up scheme, pharmacies have long given their customers the ability to order their medicine in advance so they can drop by and skip the queue. But COVID-19 has seen a surge of orders either through their online or hotline channels. This is especially useful for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Just make sure to always bring your prescriptions and IDs. You’re going to need them!

Drive-Thru Healthcare

Drive-by medicine pickups aren’t the only revolutionary move in the medical field. More and more hospitals like SPC Medical have been offering drive-thru swab tests and lab diagnostic exams. The disadvantage of this is that some smaller clinics offer the same service without a DOH accreditation. So, make sure to only go to facilities that not only have the accreditation but also the resources to perform accurate testing. SPC Medical, for example, has both the DOH-seal of approval and also the first molecular laboratory that’s recognized by the Department of health. This means the patients, the workers, and the samples are safe and secure.

Drive-thru, Drive-ins, and Drive-bys are becoming the norm as more and more people are allowed outside again. And with the rate at which innovations have been incorporated just this past year, we may see a surge of new technologies and systems keeping us safe while we ride. In the meantime, it’s still important to always practice safety guidelines and protocols.

Need medicine? Want to have a medical test done?

SPC Medical offers medicine pickups and drive-thru lab tests.

Call us now at (049) 562-0726 to 8 and 0917 844 1000

to find out how you can access them.

Whether it’s GCQ, ECQ, or MECQ, normal activities have ceased in the past year and quarantines are slowly becoming a standard practice for Filipinos amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. And while it’s a chance to cozy up on our beds and sofa sets, staying home can also be quite taxing. Activities are limited and can get repetitive. But there are plenty of things you can do inside your home to switch things up. Staying inside doesn’t have to feel like a prison sentence. Here are a few activities that might be worth exploring:

Do A Quarantine Scavenger Hunt

To keep your mind occupied, your body functional, and your brain active, you can plan a real-life look-and-find game with your loved ones. It doesn’t take a lot of resources since you can use items you can already find in your home. This quarantine activity not only lets you re-explore nooks and crannies that have remained undiscovered in years. It gives you a good workout and a fun experience that can last anywhere from minutes to hours. This is a great bonding experience when you’re stuck in quarantine with friends and family.

Do Some Quarantine Self-Reflection

Free time doesn’t always warrant exhausting activities. It doesn’t always call for sleep or idleness either. Spare time in quarantine can instead be the perfect opportunity to do both introspection and retrospection. Take advantage of the absence of external noise. It may just be the mental health reset you need to get your life back on track. You have the ability to change your perspective and see things from a different lens.

Do A Quarantine Digital Discovery

If you’re into music and streaming songs daily, why don’t you make a quarantine playlist for your life – make it an adventure! Try putting on a variety of music from different eras and different genres. It will help you feel the joy of the past normal as you adapt to your new one. Maybe it will even help you dance like you were at a club with your friends. You can even host a listening party for you and your friends. Maybe you can even name your playlist “Quaran-tunes.” Go crazy with it!

Do A Course During Quarantine

If you’re looking for something to do during this pandemic, try learning some new skills. There are plenty of educational sites popping up nowadays. There are even free lessons offered by fellow Filipinos and Filipinos at heart. Free Korean classes are available for BTS and Kpop stans. Meanwhile, schools like Harvard offer free units. Undergrads can even continue their education with online education. If courses are too much, you could also just read the books and magazines at home or online – whether it’s science, fiction, or non-fiction, there’s bound to be something interesting tucked away in there that will keep your brain active and help you through quarantine.

Do a Quarantine Training with Your Pets

It doesn’t matter if you have a cat, dog, or even a fish. You can always spend time enriching their lives and teaching them a thing or two while you’re at it. It’ll keep both of you company and it’s never a bad idea to bond with your animal over the years. And don’t listen to that bad advice that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. Yes. Yes, you can. All you need is a little patience and maybe a lot of treats just to be on the safe side. Imagine the fulfillment you both will have after the quarantine.

Do A Quarantine Date

Apps are amazing at connecting people. And it’s not impossible to connect with someone who can make you blush and sweep you off your feet. With apps now offering video dates as options for safety, you can opt out of singlehood and put on your best outfit. If the date goes horribly, at least you got to up your fashion game, right? But who knows. There may be notification bells today and if you’re lucky, there can be wedding bells tomorrow. One never knows.

These are just a few quarantine activities you can do at home in addition to your regular physical exercise and mental breaks. Remember that being stuck at home isn’t a permit to let yourself go. Try to find a sense of normalcy even when you can’t go out. It will do you a world of good.

Have more activities and ideas you want to suggest? Head over to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SPCMedicalCenter/ or browse our website for even more health information.

When you sign up for nursing and administrative work, probably the last thing you thought you’d be doing is doing an interview on a popular morning news show on a Wednesday morning for dance. But that’s exactly what happened to our very own SPC Medical staff dubbed as the “The Dancing Health Care Workers” when they appeared on the Unang Hirit news program after their #EverAfter dance challenge went viral on.

The video that garnered thousands of views was released on the popula short-form video sharing app TikTok.

According to Charmagne Exconde, part of SPC Medical’s HR team, the video was a product of collaborative fun between the nursing and administrative departments. She got dragged into it after the group spotted her just as she was about to go home.

The idea to do the dance craze can be attributed to the nursing staff who decided to pool people together and record after their shift last May 25, 2021. Among these are Arlyn De Ocampo, Daisy Guadalupe, Renzo Resurreccion, Ronilyn Gutierrez, Rachel Gigante, Donna Jane Oguimas, William Cabrante, and Jhon Arvie Diala. The dance choreography and challenge that was popularized by Tiktok User @ceejaylaqui_ (Ceejay Laqui) was modified by our Artificial Kidney Unit Clerk and receptionist Renzo Resurreccion.

According to the team, more than blowing off steam, the video’s aim was to show people that despite the crazy work schedule and stress surrounding our front liners and health workers that they can still have fun. More importantly, they can also make people smile and inspire people to just live life no matter the circumstance.

The video’s popularity was definitely unexpected but appreciated. And we are happy that from this, our staff can serve as inspiration for others to still find reasons to laugh and be happy. Sometimes joy may not be readily available, but SPC Medical’s Dancing Health Care Workers are a testament to the fact that joy can be created. And it’s something we always try to transfer to our patients.

Medical work can be a thankless job sometimes, but it’s in these moments that we find hope that beyond the dance challenge, we can remain grateful for our health care workers who risk their lives for us. And we hope that in this moment of fun, we can help lift the spirits of those who need it most.

All patients for COVID-19 testing are required to fill out a COVID-19 Investigation Form (CIF.) This is a legal document issued by the Department of Health in order to properly keep track of patient information and health history.

After filling out the CIF, patients are directed to the Swabbing area. This is where your specimens are collected by trained personnel, following strict aseptic collection techniques to ensure safety of both patient and specimen.

Following proper specimen transport and storage methods, the specimens are brought to the receiving area and are given a unique accession code. This will also reflect in the official result form with a QR code that patients may also use to verify their details.

The specimens are then brought to the specimen preparation area where the viral RNA is extracted by high-end molecular laboratory equipment, manned by professionals highly-trained in Molecular Diagnostic techniques, Biosafety, and Biosecurity.

The trained Medical Technologists will now combine the individually extracted RNA specimens to the PCR-grade chemical formula using Molecular Diagnostic techniques. Then, these specimens are run in the RT-PCR machine. Two genes are tested to detect SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19.These genes are called E-Gene, to generally detect viruses within the Coronaviridaefamily, and RdRP Gene which is specific for SARS-CoV-2. After a few hours, results will be released from the RT-PCR machine.The numerical values as well as graphs given by the machine are interpreted and validated by the Medical Technologists and Pathologist, to determine if these results meet the correct cut-off values and criteria for a positive or negative result. The yielded values may fall into different stages of viral infectious cycle.  It could fall into incubation, peak of infection with a high viral load yield, and recovering stage where the viral load will already be going down.  Your Attending Physician will advise you on how your health condition will best be managed.

Once results are validated, they will now be encoded and will undergo another series of checking and validation. Only then will these be released and sent to the patient’s e-mail addresses.

The SPCMC Molecular Laboratory follows strict process flows and protocols in order to ensure proper processing of specimens to give patients accurate results. Our dedicated and hard-working staff never fail to perform the task assigned to them at their optimal best, giving the patients the most efficient service they deserve. SPCMC Services’ Prime Objective is to always be Patient Centered as we consider this as one of the most important dimension in Healthcare Quality Management.  With rigorous trainings and studies, we are confident that our Molecular Laboratory staff are fully academically and skillfully equipped under the leadership of a highly trained and specialized Medical Practitioner to manage and run Molecular Laboratory procedures.

In advanced celebration of our 1 year in service, we thank you for trusting SPCMC Molecular Laboratory.

The COVID-19 paranoia may be justified, but it is also affecting the wellbeing of so many people around the world. The panic has moved us to a safer lane in terms of being cautious, but it has definitely taken a toll on our mental health as well. The fear comes mostly from the lack of knowledge about the virus. And with many false information going around, it can be difficult to find peace in this pandemic.

So. we’ve decided to get a list of commonly asked questions about the symptoms of COVID-19 and answer them for you. Here are a few things you can go over:

How long before COVID-19 symptoms appear?

It takes approximately 5 to 6 days for symptoms to show up after a person is infected before symptoms show. However, in some cases it can take up to 14 days before symptoms show up. It is important to note that regardless if you show symptoms or not, the COVID-19 is contagious.

What are the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?

There’s a standard list of symptoms that serve as basis for healthcare professionals to gauge when patients need to have themselves tested for the coronavirus. The list includes the following symptoms:

• Cough
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Chest pain

Will I have all these symptoms if I have COVID-19?

Each body is different. As such, the manifestations of the virus can be different too and may vary from person to person. You can have one, several or no symptoms at all and still be infected. The list of symptoms is merely based on the reports from COVID-infected patients all around the globe. New and unusual symptoms are being discovered each day.

What are less common symptoms associated with COVID-19?T

There are reports of symptoms that don’t necessarily adhere to the list we gave above. Other less common symptoms may include the following:

• Rash
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Swelling toes

With all these symptoms, it’s extremely difficult to not overthink and be afraid we might have the virus. That’s why it’s important to contact your doctor to get a proper evaluation and to have someone to talk to that can walk you through processing the situation. Hearing from an expert will surely put your mind at ease.

Getting yourself tested will also offer some comfort. And SPC Medical Center offers fast and accurate RT-PCR swab tests and rapid testing in specially modified areas to keep you safe. Contact us now at (049) 562-0726 to 8 and 0975 949 0236 to schedule an appointment.

COVID-19 is a contagious viral infection that gets its name from a combination of words. The “Co” portion represents coronavirus, the “VI” portion comes from the word virus, and the “D” comes from the word disease.

 

COVID-19 is also known to some as the coronavirus. And while some people call it that, it’s not necessarily that simple since there are also other viruses in that same specification. MERS-COV and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are also part of the coronavirus family. In addition, when we refer to COVID-19 as the “Novel Coronavirus”, novel just means that it’s a new virus that wasn’t previously known to scientists and doctors.

 

But what is COVID-19?

 

To know COVID-19, we must first dive into what the Coronavirus is. Coronavirus is classified as a common virus that may infect the sinuses, the upper throat, or the nose. They work similarly to colds and the majority of people are usually infected at least once in a lifetime.

 

The coronavirus umbrella can be further classified into alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. However, the most common ones that humans get are the 229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1. These are alphas and betas and considered human coronaviruses. But the types that have evolved from animals such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, and COVID-19 (also known as SARS-CoV-2) can be a bit more complicated to treat as it has less history to work off of for scientists to develop a vaccine.

 

Where did COVID-19 come from?

 

Bats and birds make great carriers for the coronavirus. It is widely unsubstantiated but COVID-19 may most likely come from a bat. COVID-19 is classified as Beta. Bats usually carry Alpha and Beta types while birds carry the gamma and delta types. COVID-19 is 70% genetically similar to the SARS-CoV and a 96% similarity to coronavirus in bats.

 

This isn’t something that developed in recent years either. There is an ongoing debate about the date of origin. Conservative scientists claim it existed since 8,000 BCE. Meanwhile, other scientists place it at 55 million years ago.

 

Most coronaviruses are not dangerous, but even if you do not have symptoms of Coronavirus, it is important to have yourself screened. Regular screenings are important for your overall health because they can help prevent serious illness or disease from developing in the future.

 

SPC Medical Center offers RT-PCR Swab tests and rapid tests that will help you determine whether you have the virus or not. Samples are taken with safety procedures in place and analyzed on a DOH-approved facility. Call us now at (049) 562-0726 to 8 and 0975 949 0236 to inquire. You can also visit our Covid Booking site at book.spcmcph.com to book your appointment.

Viruses are can change constantly, and the COVID-19 virus is no different. It has been mutating since it first attached itself to human DNA. A couple of extremely infectious strains of COVID were initially discovered from late 2020 to early 2021 and began multiplying mainly because countries have not been able to keep the pandemic at bay.

These strains aren’t usually more fatal than its predecessors, but they seem to be more infectious. As the previous 12 months revealed, the virus spikes when individuals start neglecting safety guidelines and governments stop working to enforce lockdown measures.

The vaccines may offer a ray of light towards the end of this nightmare, but only a small portion of the Philippine population have actually had themselves vaccinated and herd immunity is still far from reach.

So, if you really want to steer clear from catching and spreading the current and newer COVID strains, you should be taking some additional preventive measures.

Here are four ways you can better secure yourself against the COVID-19 right now:

 

1. Be more thorough with your handwashing and hygiene routine.

The newer COVID-19 strains are significantly more contagious. This means that regular interactions at the streets, grocery stores, and common living areas have a higher risk of containing the infection.

It only takes a small dose to get infected with the newer strains. So, keep some sanitizer with you at all times so you can disinfect immediately after going to these various locations.

Other than sanitizing your hands frequently, you can likewise sanitize surface areas that might possibly harbor the COVID or other infectious elements.

Handwashing has been a global trend this past year, and as the new strains spread out, it’s not the time to be taking breaks from lathering your hands with some soap and some warm water.

2. Mask on mask

If you’re going to a congested area and you plan to wear a lightweight mask, it might be an excellent choice to double your mask. Health specialists say that doubling-up masks can considerably decrease the likelihood that contaminated droplets will be able to reach your nasal passages– most especially if you’ve previously always chosen thinner fabric masks.

3. Always practice social distancing.

 

We’ve all been well acquainted with our own social bubbles during this pandemic. But that bubble’s actually bigger than you might think. Your bubble is everyone you have contact with and all the people they came in contact with. So, it’s really exponential, in a sense.

So, it follows that the people who are in that bubble must be people you trust to not have the infection and are doing every means to prevent the spread.

As newer strains of COVID-19 spread, it’s essential to regulate your social bubbles with even more diligence. Simply put, keep following physical distance guidelines and quarantine or isolate as needed.

The more that people are mindful of their bubbles, the faster the curve will flatten.

4. Get yourself vaccinated if you’re eligible.

Over 100 million dosages of COVID-19 vaccines have actually been administered to people worldwide.

If you qualified to get the vaccine, if you’re part of an at-risk group of people, or if you’re a frontline worker, get the vaccine the soonest you can get it. That will curb the prominence of this pandemic and will help defeat the new strains.

Defeating COVID-19 in the Philippines is definitely not an easy task to pursue, but there is strength in numbers and strength in the individuals in that demographic. Be responsible for yourself and work on ways about how you’ll be able to help others do the same.

SPC Medical Center  has certainly done its share and that’s evident in our facilities. Stay safe at one of the safest hospitals in the region and get yourself checked up. Call us now at (049) 562-0726 to 8 and 0917 844 1000  to schedule an appointment with our doctors.

If you were just recently exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, there are some actions you ought to take to determine whether you’ve been infected. Here are a few things to consider doing:

What do I do first after my COVID-19 exposure?

Take note of the distance you maintained from other individuals you came in contact with who tested positive. SPC Med, through the guidance of the Department of Health (DOH), advises everyone that had close contact with COVID-19 positive patients to self-quarantine and remain at home for 14 days relative from the date of their last contact. Close contact can be determined through the following criteria:

• You were at least 6 feet of a COVID-positive patient for around 15 minutes or more.
• You cared for someone that’s sick with COVID-19.
• You had physical contact with the individual.
• You shared utensils.
• They coughed, sneezed, or maybe transferred some respiratory droplets on you.

Keep a safe distance from high-risk individuals as much as possible. These include older people and individuals with known medical conditions.

When do I get a COVID-19 test?

 

If your friend or family has gotten a positive result, it’s best to get yourself tested too, even if you do not exhibit any symptoms. Research has shown that asymptomatic individuals can still spread COVID-19.

Timing, however, is important. Do not get a test immediately after contact. Screening too quickly might give a false negative because symptoms usually appear five days after infection.  Self-quarantine first and get yourself evaluated five days after you’ve last had contact with a COVID-19-positive individual.

What should I do while I wait for my COVID-19 result?

While waiting for your COVID-19 test result, it’s best to stay away from others. Stay home in order to contain the virus. Begin your self-quarantine day count from 2 days before any symptoms even became visible.

Remember everyone you’ve interacted with too. Inform them about your close encounter with a COVID-positive person and that you’re just waiting to hear from your healthcare provider to see if you’ve tested positive too. Remind them to monitor their health and to also stay home for the time being.

If I tested negative for COVID-19, can I do my regular activities again?

If you tested negative, then congratulations to you. But even if you’re feeling healthy and don’t show any signs of infection, you should still stay home and self-quarantine for a 2-week period after your last COVID-19 exposure. A negative result before the completion of your quarantine doesn’t eliminate the possibility of infection. A second test might be on the horizon should you begin to establish symptoms.

What symptoms are associated with COVID-19?

COVID-19 symptoms may vary from mild to serious and might appear any time from 2 days to 14 days after your initial exposure. The following symptoms are related to COVID-19:

* Cough

* Fever or chills

* Difficulty breathing

* Loss of taste or odor

* Diarrhea

* Fatigue

* Headache

* Muscle or body pains

* Sore Throat

* Runny nose

* Vomiting and Nausea

If you feel any of these, it’s important to first call your medical care provider or doctor for further instructions. SPC Medical Center also offers COVID-19 testing, consisting of Rapid Antibody testing , Rapid Antigen Test and RT-PCR Swab testing. You can also course your general concerns through our hotline at (049) 562-0726 to 8 and 0975 949 0236.

Filipino holidays are special. We take time out of our busy schedules to come together and talk about great memories over equally great food. We’re able to just recharge and refuel our heart tank. But it’s in the happiest moments that we tend to let our guards down. If we’re not careful, our hearts can quickly crash and turn the holiday treats into a threat. So, it’s important to be extra mindful.

Here’s a few things you can do to keep your heart happy and healthy before, during, and after the Christmas and New Year festivities:

Recipes

Pinoys are known to serve some of the best Christmas and Bagong Taon food. Liempo, Pata, Barbecue, Spaghetti, Ham, Pancit, and Lechon are some of our Noche Buena staples. A lot of these are what we would sometimes call “Putok Batok.” What’s there not to love? They’re delicious! But what do they actually do to our bodies?

A lot of the food mentioned above contains saturated fat. These can also be found in fast and heavily processed food. Too much of this can cause your LDL (Bad Cholesterol) levels to skyrocket. This can increase your likelihood of getting a heart disease and stroke.

One way you can go around this is to search for healthier ways to prepare these classic Filipino favorites. For example, crispy pata can be baked instead of fried. If you must fry, you can use an air fryer. Your regular ham or barbecue can be substituted for a chicken alternative. The ingredients in your spaghetti can be fresh and low fat instead of canned.

These simple tweaks can go a long way to help your heart health.

Restraint

Limiting food intake doesn’t really work for everybody. It’s the holidays after all! You don’t want to starve yourself while everybody else devours mouthwatering meals, right? That’s torture for a lot of people!

For anyone who can’t restrain themselves, another trick to keep your heart healthy during this time is by mixing your “unhealthy” food with some healthy options. Get a smaller portion of Lechon or roast beef and mix it with some tossed greens. You can also pair fruit with a smaller slice of cake. It’s all about portion control and a smart approach to Christmas food combos.

Reflex

Diet alone may do wonders. However, if you pair it with exercise, the effect can be monumental for your heart! A few exercise you can do is swimming, cycling, and running. However, if you already have a pre-existing heart condition, it may be best to consult your doctor to find out what exercises are best for you.

For some, walking should be enough to keep their heart in line. If you’re up for it, aerobic exercises and yoga are also ideal because they help strengthen your muscles which can assist in providing your heart some additional support.

Relax

When all is said and done, your mental and emotional health may also greatly impact your physical health. With that said, the holidays are an opportunity to relax. Whether you’re stuck inside or out and about, the best thing you can do this Christmas season for your heart is to pause and give yourself a break.

Many think that resting means you’re not being productive. On the contrary, resting gives you time to evaluate and energize yourself for what’s to come. It gives you the freedom to think about what’s best for you while you spend time doing what you want to do. So, if you’re working a lot and need to work through Christmas or New Year, remember to find pockets of time for yourself to just let loose. Stress makes your heart work harder. Eliminating stress helps your heart work better.

Celebrating the holiday season responsibly for your heart and for your health doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sacrifice all the things you love. It’s just about adjusting and finding the right balance of what you want and what your body needs. These four tips should keep you on the right track so you can start the next year stronger and better! Happy Holidays everyone!

Having heart issues? Call SPC Med now to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist! If you’re experiencing any tightness in your chest or sensations in your body that need urgent attention, we suggest rushing yourself to our emergency room so we can treat you immediately.