We have just concluded our duty rotation at Camaman-an Health Center and I'm already starting to miss it. It was one very memorable rotation. We had a considerate, young and energetic clinical instructor; very helpful, good-kind-of-loud staff and a very down-to-earth Public Health Nurse. I consider CHC to be one of the best and well-maintained health centers in my city (my judgment, of course, is very limited and biased because of the fact that I've only been to a few). My reason, can only be so rational to me. So take my word or scroll on, your choice.

Okay, so I think that it's also worth mentioning that my last day of duty at the center was also tinted with anxiety because it was the day (yesterday was the day) the PAASCU accreditors decided to drop by. Thursday is TB Day for the center, but there wasn't a plenty who came to drop their sputum by. But there were a few who needed TT shots, emergency wound dressings and mothers who came in for a Leopold's. But the accreditors weren't able to catch us performing those things (I'm not sure whether to be relieved or dismayed) and they only stayed for a while (still, I don't know if that's a phew! or a boo!).

But anyway, when they left, we took a moment to release the tension--laughed and shivered at each other's experience then proceeded to decorating the lobby for our culminating activity (if you missed the whole "we're on our last day at the health center" memo). It was really fun and I really am going to miss the people, the bond we were able to develop (since we were far too busy to socialize back at our previous OB rotation) and the less-stressful-than-OB setting. The things I was able to learn about our public health system (an abundance, as a matter of fact) is priceless.

So yeah, enough with the intro.

The center is CLEAN and obviously well-maintained. Pain is new, the ventilation is okay and the resources are sufficient.
The staff are friendly (at least they don't go out of their way to insult you)
They actually have a system--a working one--of keeping track of their pregnants, quantile one and members of their community.
They're public health workers are advocates, friendly and very entertaining. They're actually moving and were very chatty when the PAASCU accreditors came (I think they had more words exchanged with the visitors than we did--though we avoided conversations with them since we're not very adept at speaking Tagalog (sad but true).
The Public Health Nurse is performing well.
The Brgy Captain is actually concerned with the health of the community and puts in alot of money to improve the quality of care (e.g buying the PHWs their own CHN bag in case they go on home visits)
There are still many things but I think it's also worth mentioning that they have lots of programs--daily ones and special event ones. For example, Monday is general, Tuesday is prenatal day, Wednesday is immunization day, Thursday is, as I've mentioned, TB testing day and Friday is general. They are following this schedule, some of them have already been established by the DOH.

There are still plenty of reasons I LOVE LOVE LOVE Health Center duty (I can arrive at 8am MUAHAHAH) but I have class in a few and yeah. It would take me all day to list it all. So take my word for it, Ward Class is fun and very facilitative to learning. Day Care Center microteachings allow us to play with the kiddies. Actual Immunization Administration is gratifying. And eating is ALWAYS.