The 2015 Program Complementation Activities of the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) thru the Research Utilization Committee (RUC), has successfully completed the Regional Research Contest and Research Exhibit Caravan Program last February 27, 2015 at the Alumni Center of Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation Inc., San Carlos City Pangasinan with the theme “Complementing Integrity in Health thru Standard and Quality Health Researches”. This contest aims to (1) provide professional and student researches as a good avenue for health research utilization and dissemination (2) strengthen collaboration between researchers and institutions (3) promote quality health researches as parameters to quality, safe and efficient health care in this increasingly difficult health condition especially the marginalized communities and (4) tap potential researchers towards health both students and professional alike and bring out their maximum talents.

Less than 200 participants, whom are mostly students and professional attended the said activity. Participants were from Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Northwestern University (NWU), Pangasinan State University (PSU), Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC), University of Northern Philippines (UNP),Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation Inc. (VMUF), and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).Other participants (non-member institutions) were from  Collegio de Dagupan, University of Pangasinan, Lorma Colleges and St. Paul Colleges (Vigan City). These participants, together with the R1HRDC Chair & Members were warmly welcomed by the Drum and Bungle Corps of VMUF. The program started with the ribbon cutting for the Research Exhibit Caravan and Poster Competition, followed by the invocation and Philippine National Anthem led by the Drum and Bugle Corps of VMUF. Dr. Ma. Lilia Posadas-Juan, University President delivered her welcome remarks and the response was given by Dr. Mercita Queddeng, Chairman of RUC. An inspirational message came from the woman behind the success of R1HRDC, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza. This was followed by the awarding of Certificates of Appreciation and token to Dr. Ma. Lilia Posadas-Juan by the chairman of the Consortium and other chairs from different committees.

During the Regional Research Contest, under Professional Category, out of the 69 entries submitted, only five (5) papers were qualified for the Oral Presentation and five (5) papers for Poster Exhibit Contest. Under the Student Category, in which more than 80 entries were submitted, and only six (6) papers and eight (8) papers were qualified for Oral Presentation and Poster Exhibit Contest, respectively simultaneous presentations were done during the contests. The members of the Technical Panel for the Oral Presentation (Professional Category) were Dir. Armando Ganal from DOST, Dr. Jose B. Orosa III from MMMHMC and Mr. David Livingstone Ramos from LNU while Dr. Rolando Navarro from UNP, Dr. Larguita Reotutar and RUC members were the technical panel members for the Poster Exhibit Contest. For the student category the Evaluators for Oral Presentation were Dr. Hilarion Maramba from R1MC, Dr. Geraldine Casipit from CHED and Dr. Unity H. Cortez from ITRMC while for the Poster Exhibit Contest, the members of the Technical Panel were Dr. Nora P. Benavides from PSU, Dr. Cecilia Villamor from DMMMSU and RUC members.

The Research Exhibit Caravan showcased four (4) completed research paper funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).

The activity ended profitably with the awarding of winners and consolation prizes to the participants.

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A two-day workshop for Applied Ethics in Research was held on June 18-19, 2014 at the Playa Tropical, Currimao, Ilocos Norte. The twenty-three participants, who attended the workshop, are mostly Medical Practitioners and members of the Ethics Review Committee from R1Medical Center, ITRMC, MMSU, MMMH, UNP, DMMMSU including the representatives of their partner agencies like the CHR, POPCOM, DOH, NNC, DOST, and PCHRD.

The workshop consisted of a Pre-Test; 9 Lectures; 5 Small Group Works (SGW) which varied from Discussions, Self-Discernment and Role Play; Plenary Sessions in the form of Previews, Presentations and Critiques; Individual Reading and Assignment; a Post Test Evaluation; and Daily and Final Workshop Evaluation.

The workshop started at 2:00 PM with the administration of a pre-test on Research Cognitive Valuation. This was immediately followed by a short introduction on the workshop goals and quick run through of the program schedule.

Dr. Rosario Angeles T. Alora and Dr. Evangeline O. Santos, who are both from the Research Ethics Board of UP Manila, were the Main Resource Speakers/Facilitators of the said Workshop.

During the first day of the workshop, Dr. Alora gave Lectures 1, 2 and 6 which pertained to Introduction to Ethics in Research, Ethical Research, and Valuing the Person as Equal to Others: Justice, respectively.

Dr. Santos, on the other hand, delivered Lectures 3, 4 and 5 anent Valuing the Person as an End: Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Valuing the Person as one with Dignity: Autonomy.

On the second day, Dr. Alora discussed Lecture 7 relative to Ensuring Ethical Research Controls, while Dr. Santos delved on Lectures 8 and 9 about the The Institutional Ethics Review Committee and The Ethical Researcher, respectively.

Shortly thereafter, each of the participants shared their personal limitations/hindrances as well as their plan of action/recommendations on how they can improve as a researcher or member of the committee.

The workshop was conducted to provide an avenue for the aforesaid participants to dialogue and guide regarding the moral dimensions of research; to help the participants evaluate ethical research, specifically to sensitize them on the basic concepts, to apply the concepts to avoid, recognize and correct issues; to describe the different controls for Ethics in Research focusing on the Phil Health Research Ethics Board, Institutional Research Ethics Committee and the Researcher; and to motivate the participants to do and advocate quality ethical research. 

The RxBox program is designed to provide better access to life-saving health care service in isolated and disadvantaged communities nationwide. It is one among the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) efforts for a “Smarter Philippines”.

In 2007, RxBox played a very important role in the development of the National Telehealth Service Program (NTSP), currently one of the Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts towards Universal Health Care.

The RxBox program consists of a biomedical device and builds capacities of frontline health workers on telemedicine, the use of electronic medical records and the RxBox telemedicine device.

The RxBox supports the country’s race towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on improving maternal and neonatal health services. It supports also the campaign to control Non Communicable Diseases, major causes of death and diseases in the country.

WHAT RxBox Does?

• Blood Pressure Monitor – measures the patient’s blood pressure and detect heart and blood vessels problems, especially hypertension, a disease which can also worsen other chronic lifestyle disease conditions.
• Pulse Oxymeter – assesses the level of oxygen in the patient’s blood and can help detect lung and heart problems, the leading causes of death of Filipinos.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – monitors the heart’s movement to pump blood throughout the body. This is helpful for those with acute and chronic heart problems, including pregnant mothers with heart disease.
• Fetal Heart Monitor – measures the baby’s heart rate while in the womb. It can help detect the baby’s difficulty at critical times of the pregnancy and delivery.
• Maternal Tacometer – assesses the strength of contraction of the mother’s uterus especially during delivery. It can detect problems that can lead to distress to both the mother and her baby.
• Improves documentation of patient information using its CHITS-electronic medical record.
• Through telemedicine, as part of the National Telehealth Service program, links the remote primary care health workers with clinical specialists in hospitals for better patient care.
• Reduces unnecessary travels and hospitalizations of patients.
• Improves the health referral system in their area through telemedicine CHITS-Community health Information and Tracking System.
• Lack of medicines and other life-saving technology
• Maldistribution of health workers
• Geographic isolation
• Commercialized medicine: expensive and out of reach of the poor Filipino.

SOLUTION:

- Maximize established benefits of Information & Communications Technology in Health Care      

- Maximizes use of health technology, enables communication and connects patients and health providers.