Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health
Center for Health Development I
REGION 1 MEDICAL CENTER
Arellano Street, Dagupan City 2400
Center for Education, Training and Research
[email protected]
[email protected]

REGION 1 MEDICAL CENTER GUIDELINES ON THE RESUMPTION OF THE CLINICAL

July 31, 2022

The following guidelines are adapted from the supplemental guidelines issued by the Association of Philippine
Medical Colleges (APMC) which is also in consonance with the Joint Memorandum Circular of the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH). Guidelines released by the Philippine
General Hospital on the resumption of its clinical internship is likewise adapted.

A. ENSURING SAFETY

The following pre-conditions are ensured before allowing face-to-face clinical rotations:

1. In accordance with the CHED Memorandum Order No, 14 Series of 2021, face-to-face clinical
rotation of post-graduate interns be allowed regardless of community quarantine status and upon
issuance of the certificate of authority by the CHED Regional Office (CHEDRO) concerned.
2. All hospital health workers including interns are mandated to always wear the appropriate personal
protective equipment in the hospital premises which include at least the following:
a. Face mask/Surgical Mask/KN95/N95
b. Goggles and/or face shields
c. Isolation gowns or Coveralls
d. Sterile or clean gloves if necessary
3. Protocols of the Hospital Infection Control Unit are made available and will be carried out. Strict
compliance by all health workers will be monitored.
4. Training on infection control protocols and procedures will be scheduled.

B. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The clinical rotation with face-to-face (F2F) patient care is scheduled starting August 1, 2022.
a. All interns are required to present their vaccination card (Fully vaccinated: 2 primary doses
and at least 1 booster dose but preferably 2 booster doses have already been administered).
Only partially-vaccinated and unvaccinated interns are required to undergo an RT-PCR test for
COVID-19 in an accredited testing facility three-four days before the start of the F2F rotations.
i. It is advised to observe a 14-day quarantine prior to the swab testing.
ii. Only those with negative RT-PCR swabs will be allowed to continue with the face-to-face
arrangements.
b. All interns are advised to update their immunizations. Please prioritize the following vaccines:
influenza, hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, TdaP
c. All interns are advised to submit a notarized Deed of Undertaking/Informed consent/Liability
Waiver prior to the deployment.
2. Interns are required to observe minimum health standards (i.e. social distancing, frequent
handwashing) and ensure availability of personal protective equipment to be worn at all times while in
the hospital premises. (i.e. face masks, face shields/goggles). It is also recommended that equipment
used during the tour of duty should be frequently decontaminated in accordance to published safety
protocols. In the event of aerosol-generating procedures, proper protective equipment should be worn
to minimize infection spread.
3. All interns are strongly advised to enroll and/or update their Philhealth membership and payments prior
to the start of the F2F rotations.
4. Duty service will delegate one safety officer who will be checking symptoms and temperature of all
interns reporting in the wards every start of the shift. This will be reported daily to the consultant monitor
of each department and will be checked by the Center for Education, Training and Research (CETAR)
Office.
5. The interns will be divided into six blocks and will be endorsed to clinical departments and the four
major rotations namely: Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery and Pediatrics.
a. Minimum competencies per rotations will be adapted. (see Annex A)
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
Center for Health Development I
REGION 1 MEDICAL CENTER
Arellano Street, Dagupan City 2400
Center for Education, Training and Research
[email protected]
[email protected]

b. Interns are asked to co-manage admitted service patient with the duty team. They are required
to perform history-taking and physical examination, procedures, conduction within the hospital
premises and monitoring as needed. Written chart orders should always be countersigned by
the resident or consultant. Procedures done will be recorded to fulfill minimum competencies as
stated.
c. In addition to patient care, all interns are encouraged to maximize the learning opportunities in
their respective rotations by also attending webinars, admission conferences, morbidity and
mortality conferences, consultant lectures and bedside rounds.
d. All interns will be assigned to NON-COVID areas only which will include the regular wards,
intensive care units, emergency room and outpatient clinics. They are allowed to do ambulance
conduction services for NON-COVID cases.
e. Duty schedule will be as follows (Mondays thru Saturdays):
i. Pre-duty working hours: 8 AM – 5 PM (8 AM – 12 NN on Saturdays)
ii. Duty hours: 8 AM – 8 PM
iii. Post-duty working hours: 8 – 12 NN
iv. No night shift duties
v. Interns with post-duty status on Saturdays will have the day off.
f. Sundays are dedicated for self-directed learning and review time for the Physician Licensure
Examination. In case of sanctions or demerits, make-up duties can only be scheduled during
this time.
g. Schedules are not affected by pronouncements of holidays or cancellation of office work due to
natural calamities or special local events. If such events happen, Saturday duty schedule will be
followed.
h. Social distancing requirements will be strictly enforced with at least 1 meter distance from
anyone in the hospital premises should be maintained.
i. Proper ventilation of conference room or call rooms should be ensured with chairs properly
arranged in accordance to social distancing requirements.
j. Breaks should be on a staggered basis so as to minimize infection spread as have been seen
during food breaks and downtime as workers tend to crowd the pantry or callrooms. Always
wear face masks and face shields during discussions and chats.
k. An intern is discouraged from going out of the hospital premises during their tour of duty.
l. After every duty, the intern is encouraged to refrain from going to areas where there are high
rates of infection. He/She is encouraged to bathe right away and change to new clothes upon
arrival in his/her respective residence with emphasis on disinfection of personal protective
equipment on a regular basis.
6. If an intern feels ill or has flu-like symptoms, he/she is advised not to report physically for duty and must
inform his/her resident and consultant monitors immediately. He/she must report to the Hospital
Epidemiology Center (HEC) for further instructions regarding testing and subsequent consult. He/she
also has the option to seek consult with his/her personal attending physician regarding the current
condition. If an intern becomes symptomatic with or without a confirmatory test and he/she warrants
hospital admission, he/she is required to be admitted in the COVID isolation facility of the hospital for
monitoring and management.
7. Absences and academic deficiencies shall be made up upon the discretion of the department. If the
incurred absences were due to medical quarantine, no additional requirement needed but the intern
may opt to go on duty to make up for missed learning opportunities.
8. Leave of absence may be filed for personal or family reasons and for health, safety and security
concerns.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
Center for Health Development I
REGION 1 MEDICAL CENTER
Arellano Street, Dagupan City 2400
Center for Education, Training and Research
[email protected]
[email protected]

Respectfully yours,

MARC ANDREW PEREZ, MD, DPPS, DPSN, DPNSP, FPSMS

Noted by:

(Sgd) PERFECTO B. SORIANO, MD, FPPS, FPSECP, MSc.