Brgy. Bagong Silangan and Payatas Health Centers Receive Telemedicine Devices

Three public health centers in Payatas, Quezon City received telemedicine devices last June 13, 2023 from the Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region to further boost health access for the residents.

DOST-NCR Regional Director Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles turned over three (3) units of the RxBox telehealth devices to District Health Officer Dr. Karen Gemma See, Dr. Trinidad Aquino-Villar from the Quezon City Health Department Barangay Silangan Lying-in-Clinic, Dr. Anna Marie Katrina Boltron from the Quezon City Health Department Payatas A Health Center, and Dr. Nomer Gumiran from the Quezon City Health Department Payatas B Health Center. She was assisted by Engr. Lota Paras, Head of the DOST-NCR's PAMAMAZON Clustered Area Science and Technology Office (CASTO) and Ms. Jennifer Palaganas, PAMAMAZON Cluster Focal Person for the DOST's Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology Program (CEST).

Acknowledging the need to provide quality health care to patients, RD Tresvalles recognized the crucial role of the primary health care system in delivering continuous and comprehensive care, in which the RxBox could be of help. The RxBox is a device that can measure the patient's vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, uterine contractions, and electrocardiogram readings. It was developed by Filipino researchers from UP Manila and UP Diliman through the support of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST PCHRD).

One advantage of the RxBox is its user-friendly interface that enables the patients themselves to monitor their own health status, which they can then relay to their respective health care providers and thus reduce the need for in-person visits. It can also store and transmit critical information such as logs of the attached medical sensors as well as patient information through the RxBox Detection and Communication (RxDETEC) mobile application that is installed in each device.

The turn-over was then followed with a one-day training session on the use of the device attended by the health personnel from the lying-in clinic and health centers.

The Turn-Over Ceremony was attended by Dr. Pretchell Tolentino, Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development; Ms. Rosalie Espeleta, Development Management Office IV and Atty. Rene Grapilon, Assistant City Administrator for General Affairs of the Quezon City Local Government Unit; as well as midwives and barangay health workers.