In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for NCM 104

Portfolio in Community Health Nursing

Prepared by:
KENT FERRY D. FUENTES
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
2-3

Presented to:
JOAN R. AGUSTIN, RN, MAN
Classroom Instructor

February 2021

PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS

Philippine Health Care Laws REPUBLIC ACT – an act passed by the Congress of the Philippines, while the
form of government is Republican government.

Republic Act 349 – Legalizes the use of human organs for surgical, medical and scientific purposes

Republic Act 1054 – Requires the owner, lessee or operator of any commercial, industrial or agricultural
establishment to furnish free emergency, medical and dental assistance to his employees and laborers.

Republic Act 1080 – Civil Service Eligibility

Republic Act 1082 – Rural Health Unit Act

Republic Act 1136 – Act recognizing the Division of Tuberculosis in the DOH

Republic Act 1612 – Privilege Tax/Professional tax/omnibus tax should be paid January 31 of each year

Republic Act 1891 – Act strengthening Health and Dental services in the rural areas

Republic Act 2382 – Philippine Medical Act which regulates the practice of medicines in the Philippines

Republic Act 2644 – Philippine Midwifery Act

Republic Act 3573 – Law on reporting of Communicable Diseases

Republic Act 4073 – Liberalized treatment of Leprosy

Republic Act 4226 – Hospital Licensure Act requires all hospital to be licensed before it can operative

Republic Act 5181 – Act prescribing permanent residence and reciprocity as qualifications for any examination or
registration for the practice of any profession in the Philippines

Republic Act 5821 – The Pharmacy Act

Republic Act 5901 – 40 hours work for hospital workers

Republic Act 6111 – Medicare Act

Republic Act 6365 – Established a National Policy on Population and created the Commission on population

Republic Act 6425 – Dangerous Drug Act of 1992

Republic Act 6511 – Act to standardize the examination and registration fees charged by the National Boards, and
for other purposes.

Republic Act 6675 – Generics Act of 1988

Republic Act 6713 – Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees

Republic Act 6725 – Act strengthening the prohibition on discrimination against women with respect to terms and
condition of employment

Republic Act 6727 – Wage Rationalization Act

Republic Act 6758 – Standardized the salaries

Republic Act 6809 – Majority age is 18 years old

Republic Act 6972 – Day care center in every Barangay

Republic Act 7160 – Local Government Code

Republic Act 7164 – Philippine Nursing Act of 1991

Republic Act 7170 – Law that govern organ donation

Republic Act 7192 – Women in development nation building

Republic Act 7277 – Magna Carta of Disabled Persons

Republic Act 7305 – The Magna Carta of public Health Workers

Republic Act 7392 – Philippine Midwifery Act of 1992

Republic Act 7432 – Senior Citizen Act

Republic Act 7600 – Rooming In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992

Republic Act 7610 – Special protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination act Republic Act
7624 – Drug Education Law

Republic Act 7641 – New Retirement Law

Republic Act 7658 – An act prohibiting the employment of children below 15 years of age

Republic Act 7719 – National Blood Service Act of 1994

Republic Act 7875 – National Health Insurance Act of 1995

Republic Act 7876 – Senior Citizen Center of every Barangay

Republic Act 7877 – Anti-sexual harassment Act of 1995

Republic Act 7883 – Barangay Health workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1992

Republic Act 8042 – Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995

Republic Act 8172 – Asin Law

Republic Act 8187 – Paternity Leave Act of 1995

Republic Act 8203 – Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs

Republic Act 8282 – Social Security Law of 1997 (amended RA 1161)

Republic Act 8291 – Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997 (amended PD 1146)

Republic Act 8344 – Hospital Doctors to treat emergency cases referred for treatment

Republic Act 8423 – Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Republic Act 8424 – Personal tax Exemption

Republic Act 8749 – The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Republic Act 8981 – PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Republic Act 9165 – Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
2002

Republic Act 9173 – Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Republic Act 9288 – Newborn Screening Act PRESIDENTIAL DECREE – An order of the President. This power
of the President which allows him/her to act as legislators was exercised during the Marshall Law period.

Presidential Decree 46 – An act making it punishable for any public officials or employee, whether of the national
or local government, to receive directly or indirectly any gifts or valuable things

Presidential Decree 48 – Limits benefits of paid maternity leave privileges to four children

Presidential Decree 69 – Limits the number of children to four (4) tax exemption purposes

Presidential Decree 79 – Population Commission Presidential Decree 147 – Declares April and May as National
Immunization Day

Presidential Decree 148 – Regulation on Woman and Child Labor Law

Presidential Decree 166 – Strengthened Family Planning program by promoting participation of private sector in
the formulation and implementation of program planning policies.

Presidential Decree 169 – Requiring Attending Physician and/or persons treating injuries resulting from any form
of violence.

Presidential Decree 223 – Professional Regulation Commission

Presidential Decree 442 – Labor Code Promotes and protects employee’s self-organization and collective
bargaining rights. Provision for a 10% right differential pay for hospital workers.

Presidential Decree 491 – Nutrition Program

Presidential Decree 539 – Declaring last week of October every as Nurse’s Week. October 17, 1958

Presidential Decree 541 – Allowing former Filipino professionals to practice their respective professions in the
Philippines so they can provide the latent and expertise urgently needed by the homeland
Presidential Decree 568 – Role of Public Health midwives has been expanded after the implementation of the
Restructed Health Care Delivery System (RHCDS)

Presidential Decree 603 – Child and Youth Welfare Act / Provision on Child Adoption

Presidential Decree 626 – Employee Compensation and State Insurance Fund. Provide benefits to person covered
by SSS and GSIS for immediate injury, illness and disability.

Presidential Decree 651 – All births and deaths must be registered 30 days after delivery.

Presidential Decree 825 – Providing penalty for improper disposal garbage and other forms of uncleanliness and
for other purposes.

Presidential Decree 851 – 13th Month pay Presidential Decree 856 – Code of Sanitation

Presidential Decree 965 – Requiring applicants for Marriage License to receive instruction on family planning and
responsible parenthood.

Presidential Decree 996 – Provides for compulsory basic immunization for children and infants below 8 years of
age. Presidential Decree 1083 – Muslim Holidays

Presidential Decree 1359 – A law allowing applicants for Philippine citizenship to take Board Examination
pending their naturalization.

Presidential Decree 1519 – Gives medicare benefits to all government employees regardless of status of
appointment.

Presidential Decree 1636 – requires compulsory membership in the SSS and self-employed

Presidential Decree 4226 – Hospital Licensure Act PROCLAMATION – an official declaration by the Chief
Executive / Office of the President of the Philippines on certain programs / projects / situation

Proclamation No.6 – UN’s goal of Universal Child Immunization; involved NGO’s in the immunization program

Proclamation No. 118 – Professional regulation Week is June 16 to 22

Proclamation No. 499 – National AIDS Awareness Day Proclamation No. 539 – Nurse’s Week – Every third week
of October

Proclamation No. 1275 – Declaring the third week of October every year as “Midwifery Week” LETTER OF
INSTRUCTION – An order issued by the President to serve as a guide to his/her previous decree or order.

LOI 47 – Directs all school of medicine, nursing, midwifery and allied medical professions and social work to
prepare, plan and implement integration of family planning in their curriculum to require their graduate to take the
licensing examination.

LOI 949 – Act on health and health related activities must be integrated with other activities of the overall national
development program. Primary Health Care (10-19-79)

LOI 1000 – Government agencies should be given preference to members of the accredited professional
organization when hiring

EXECUTIVE ORDER – an order issued by the executive branch of the government in order to implement a
constructional mandate or a statutory provision.

Executive Order 51 – The Milk Code

Executive Order 174 – National Drug Policy on Availability, Affordability, Safe, Effective and Good Quality drugs
to all

Executive Order 180 – Government Workers Collective Bargaining Rights Guidelines on the right to Organize of
government employee.

Executive Order 203 – List of regular holidays and special holidays Executive Order 209 – The Family Code
(amended by RA 6809)

Executive Order 226 – Command responsibility

Executive Order 503 – Provides for the rules and regulations implementing the transfer of personnel, assets,
liabilities and records of national agencies whose functions are to be devoted to the local government units.

Executive Order 857 – Compulsory Dollar Remittance Law Other Important Information
Administrative Order 114 – Revised/updated the roles and functions of the Municipal Health Officers, Public
Health Nurses and Rural Midwives

ILO Convention 149 – Provides the improvement of life and work conditions of nursing personnel.

Activity 1

A. Write your answer in the space provided.

Determinants of Health Components

1. Socioeconomic Employment, Education, Housing
2. Political Safety, Oppression, People Empowerment
3. Health Care Delivery System Promotive, Preventive, Curative, Rehabilitative
4. Heredity Generic Endowment (defects, strengths, risks),
Familial, Ethnic, Racial
5. Behavioral Culture, Habits, Mores, Ethnic Customs
6. Environmental Air, Food, Water Waste, Urban/Rural, Noise,
Radiation, Pollution
B. Matching Type. Match Column A with Column B.

Answers:

1. C 8. J

2. A 9. E

3. B 10. H

4. F

5. G

6. D

7. I

C. Essay. Write at least 3 sentences.

1. What’s so important about Community Health Nursing?

Ans: Community health nursing is important because there are members of society who do not have access to
healthcare. Nurses work in communities to reach people who need assistance with treating medical conditions and
maintaining their health. Some community members need nurses to visit them in their homes or be available locally
so they can walk or take public transportation to meet with them. Some reasons why community members may not
seek out medical care is because they are unable to pay for healthcare, they have no insurance, they have no
transportation, they are not able to physically travel to a physician's office or hospital, they lack knowledge of where
to go for healthcare.

2. Discuss the roles of the community health nurse do in the community setting.

Ans: Nurses who serve as community health nurses provide care to vulnerable groups of people and promote the
importance of healthy habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising, and scheduling routine wellness checkups.
Community health nurses possess strong clinical and critical thinking skills and have the analytical ability to solve
problems and make decisions. They can adapt their nursing care to the needs of a diverse group of patients. Their
job includes administering well-baby assessments and vaccinations, directing expectant and new mothers to
healthcare resources so they can receive proper care for themselves and their infants. They also conduct education
programs or handing out information about lead poisoning, substance abuse, dangers of smoking, teen pregnancy
and sexually transmitted diseases, stopping the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, influenza or
hepatitis. Moreover, they assist the elderly in managing chronic health conditions and providing care to sick or
injured children and adults.

3. Why is there a need to strengthen the capability of the community health nurse to respond to the current
pandemic?

Ans: Community health nurses are poised to play a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic, especially in some areas
with vulnerable health systems. They should be equipped, trained and supported as part of a well-functioning health
system can help keep the pandemic in check. Community health nurses promote pandemic preparedness by
increasing the access to health services and products within communities, communicating health concepts in a
culturally appropriate fashion, and reducing the burdens felt by formal healthcare systems. They also act as
community-level educators and mobilizers, contributing to surveillance systems, and filling health service gaps. In
order to achieve these, community health nurses must be trained on communicating in one health information to at-
risk communities prior to outbreaks, pooling them into a reserve health corps to be used during public health
emergencies, and formalizing agreements and strategies to promote the early engagement of community health
nurses in response actions. Furthermore, recognizing that community health nurses already play a role in pandemic
preparedness, I feel that expanding their roles and responsibilities represents a practical means of improving
pandemic and community-level resilience.

Activity 2

Direction:  Assess your Family Coping Index. Observe on the ability of your family to deal or cope with problems
associated with health care.
I. Direction for Scaling

The scale enables you to place the family in relation to their ability to cope with the nine areas of family nursing at
the time observed. Coping capacity is rated from 1 (totally unable to manage this aspect of family care) to 5 (able to
handle this aspect of care without help from community sources).

Check “no problem” if the particular category is not relevant to the situation.

General Considerations

1. It is the coping capacity and not the underlying problem that is being rated.
2. It is the family and not the individual that is being rated.
3. The scale is as follows:
 0-2 or no competence
 3-5 coping in some fashion but poorly
 6-8 moderately competent
 9 fairly competent

Scaling Cues
Areas to Be Assessed 1 or no 3 for moderate 5 for complete No
competence competence competence. Problem
1. Physical independence: This 
category is concerned with the ability
to move about to get out of bed, to
take care of daily grooming, walking
and other things which involves the
daily activities.
2. Therapeutic Competence: This 
category includes all the
procedures or treatment
prescribed for the care of ill,
such as giving medication,
dressings, exercise and
relaxation, special diets.
3. Knowledge of Health 
Condition: This system is concerned
with the particular health condition
that is the occasion of care
 4. Application of the Principles of 
General Hygiene: This is
concerned with the family action
in relation to maintaining family
nutrition, securing adequate rest
and relaxation for family
members, carrying out accepted
preventive measures, such as
immunization.
5. Health Attitudes: This category 
is concerned with the way the family
feels about health care in general,
including preventive services, care of
illness and public health measures.
6. Emotional Competence: This 
category has to do with the
maturity and integrity with
which the members of the family
are able to meet the usual
stresses and problems of life, and
to plan for happy and fruitful
living.
7. Family Living: This category is 
concerned largely with the
interpersonal with the
interpersonal or group aspects of
family life – how well the
members of the family get along
with one another, the ways in
which they take decisions
affecting the family as a whole.
8. Physical Environment: This is 
concerned with the home, the
community and the work
environment as it affects family
health.
9. Use of Community 
Facilities: generally, keeps
appointments. Follows through
referrals. Tells others about
Health Departments services
Total 0 2 7 0

II. Justification

Justification- a brief statement that explains why you have rated the family you have. These statements should be
expressed in terms of behavior of observable facts. Example: “Family nutrition includes basic 4 rather than good
diet.

1. All family members are free from any disability and are capable of doing their activities of daily living
independently.
2. The adult members of the family are able to carry out the prescribed procedure safely and efficiently.
3. All family members are aware on the salient facts about a particular disease well enough to take necessary action
at the proper time and immediately reports the presence of significant symptoms.
4. Our family maintains the nutrition of all members by ensuring that all of us eat 3 times a day. Meals are well
selected and we recognize the importance of bathing every day and brushing our teeth every after meal. We also
make sure that we have adequate amount of sleep and rest to maintain the good condition of our body.
5. Our family accepts medical treatments, procedures, preventive measures and public health measures.
6. The family generally maintains a happy environment and has a positive outlook in life. Whenever there is a
problem, we talk about it and settle in a good way. Family members are open on discussing different matters or
concerns and enables interaction with one another.
7. Our family is well-grounded and close to each other. Household runs smoothly and have enough resources to
provide the needs of the members.
8. Our house is made of cement but not that fully furnished and stagnant water near our house is present.
9. The adults usually attend the community health seminars but not that often. We don’t usually go to regular
checkups or any health appointment as long as we’re in shape and free from any illness or diseases.
Activity 3
 Vaccine Disease Type of Vaccine Usual No. of Doses in
Primary Series & Route
of Administration
BCG Tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette Guerin 1 Dose;
(BCG) live attenuated Intradermal
myobacterium bovis
Hepatitis B Vaccine Hepatitis Plasm Recombinant 1 Dose;
Intramuscular
OPV Polio Live Attenuated 2 Drops per dose, 3
Doses;
Oral
IPV Polio Inactivated 1 Dose;
Intramuscular
PENTA DPT-HepaB-Hib Diphtheria, Tetanus, Inactivated; Conjugate 3 Doses;
Pertussis, Hepatitis B, polysaccharide vaccine Intramuscular
Haemophilus influenzae
type b (Hib) diseases
PCV Pneumonia Inactivated Conjugated 3 Doses;
Intramuscular
PPV Pneumonia Inactivated 1 Dose;
Polysaccharide Intramuscular
MMR Measles-Mumps-Rubella Live Attenuated 1 Dose;
Subcutaneous
MR Measles- Rubella Live Attenuated 1 Dose;
Subcutaneous
JE Vaccine Japanese Encephalitis Live Attenuated 1 Dose;
Subcutaneous

2. List the importance of FHSIS

A. Helps local government determine public health priorities

B. Basis for planning, budgeting, logistics and decision – making at all levels

C. Source of data to detect any unusual occurrence of a disease

3. Immediate postnatal care package (required within 24 hours after birth)

A. Cord care

B. Initiation of Breastfeeding within the first hour of life

C. Vitamin K injection

D. Eye prophylaxis

E. Delayed bathing to 6 hours of life

F. BCG and first dose of Hepatitis B Immunization

G. Newborn screening

Activity 4

1. Why are Filipino values important in the health care setting? Explain in three sentences.

Ans: Filipino values are important in health care setting because it serves as a guide to render effective and quality
health service. Like for example, honesty and being faithful are the most important values that a nurse should
possess because these values can contribute to the improvement and maintenance of the health of their patients.
Together with their flexibility and adaptability, their open attitude to learn and understand others can only lead to
increasing confidence and satisfaction of the patient.

2. What are the Filipino cultural beliefs and practices related to health? Give at least three.

Answers:

 By showing fondness or affection when meeting a baby for the first time, you may cause the baby to
feel uneasy or make the baby cry non-stop which is commonly referred to as "na-usog."
This belief in usog can cause an infant to feel unwell either by greeting the baby or simply by being overly
fond of him or her when meeting the child for the first time. To avoid passing the negative energy and cure
 the infant of usog, superstition practice says you must dab your saliva on the baby’s forehead or abdomen.
Often, most people would also greet the child by saying “pwera usog” meaning for protection from the hex.
Some even make it a point to buy their child a bracelet made from black and red or coral beads to
fight usog. While Filipinos believe in usog, the most logical explanation for babies feeling unwell after
meeting strangers is that the infant reacts to a stress trigger of seeing unfamiliar faces or people—resulting
in anxiety to the baby.
 Hitting the sack right after a shower is believed to cause blindness and insanity.
This superstition suggests that if you go straight to bed with wet hair, you might wake up blind or insane.
However, there is no firm correlation between wet hair, loss of eyesight, and insanity, so avoiding sleeping
with wet hair is mostly for cosmetic reasons. Rubbing wet hair against your pillow can cause hair damage
or breakage. The friction will also lead to you having to deal with a bad hair day the next morning. If you
notice alarming symptoms of vision loss or a mental health issue, it’s best to visit an eye doctor or a
trusted outpatient care facility and let a medical professional handle it.
 Washing sweaty hands can lead to spasmodic hands or pasma. 
It’s a common Filipino advice not to wash your hands right after finishing labor-intensive chores to
avoid pasma—the reason for shaky hands, sweaty palms, and numbness or pain in the hands. Often, right
after ironing a handful of your clothes, you’ll be discouraged by your mom or grandmother to wet your
hands. Similarly, it is believed that taking a bath after a workout can lead to illnesses. The truth is, hand
tremors, sweaty hands, numbness, and pain in the hands are symptoms that are often related to diabetes
mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, and nervous system dysfunction. If you regularly experience such symptoms,
rule out any underlying conditions by paying a quick visit to a trusted health professional.

3. Why are the core professional values important for both community members and the community health nurse?
Explain in three sentences.

Ans: Core professional values are important for both community members and the community health nurse because
these will enable a strong nurse-patient relationship- in this way, it will promote cooperation and will serve as an
opportunity to health nurses to demonstrate competent skills and deliver quality care. Also, professional values
affect decision-making and patient care and is a crucial part in terms of quality of patients care, nurses’ occupational
satisfaction, their retention in nursing and commitment to the profession. Moreover, these values will empower
health nurses to be cognizant of their duties to both individual clients and to the community as a whole, and seek
solutions for their clients that also support community’s broader interests.

Activity 5

1. What is Magna Carta for Health Workers is all about? Does it really fulfill its intent?

Ans: The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (Republic Act or RA 7305) was enacted to ensure that health
workers are properly compensated, which will in turn benefit patients through the delivery of quality health care
service. Thus, its intention was supposed to be for the benefit of the overall health care delivery service. However,
since the Magna Carta law was vague in specifying the sources of funds for payment of all the benefits, there is no
real accountability on who should fund it. For instance, the law stated that payment must be based on “LGU
capacity,” yet the PIDS study on local services delivery had shown that there is no real logic to the compliance by
local government units (LGUs) on the payment of Magna Carta benefits.4 Differences in the LGUs’ capacity to pay
have resulted in differences in benefits received by health workers, even among those of equal ranks. These
differences in pay and benefits have an adverse effect of sowing discontent rather than empowerment of health
workers.

2. What are the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Health (DOH) under Revised Dangerous Drugs Law
(R.A. 9165)- The DOH shall:

 Be tasked to license and accredit drug testing centers in each province and city in order to assure their
capacity, competence, integrity and stability to conduct the laboratory examinations and tests provided in
this Article, and appoint such technical and other personnel as may be necessary for the effective
implementation of this provision.
 Accredit physicians who shall conduct the drug dependency examination of a drug dependent as well as the
after-care and follow-up program for the said drug dependent. There shall be a control regulations,
licensing and accreditation division under the supervision of the DOH for this purpose.
 Establish, operate and maintain drug testing centers in government hospitals, which must be provided at
least with basic technologically advanced equipment and materials, in order to conduct the laboratory
examination and tests herein provided, and appoint such qualified and duly trained technical and other
personnel as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this provision.

3. What are the penalties of violators of Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (R.A. 9211)?
A. Violation of Sections 5 and 6. - On the first offense, a fine of not less than Five Hundred Pesos (Php500.00) but
not more than One Thousand (Php1,000.00) shall be imposed.

 On the second offense, a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (Php1,000.00) but not more than Five
Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) shall be imposed.
 On the third offense, in addition to a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) but not more
than Ten Thousand pesos (Php10,000.00), the business permits and licenses to operate shall be cancelled or
revoked.

B. Violation of Sections 7,8,9, 10 and 11 - On the first offense, any person or any business entity or establishment
selling to, distributing or purchasing a cigarette or any other tobacco products for a minor shall be fined the amount
of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) or an imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days, upon the
discretion of the business licenses or permits in the case of a business entity or establishment.

 If the violation is by establishment of business entity, the owner, president, manager, or the most senior
officers thereof shall be liable for the offense.
 If a minor is caught selling, buying or smoking cigarettes or any other tobacco products, the provisions of
Article 189 of Presidential Decree No. 603 otherwise known as The Child and Youth Welfare Code, as
amended, shall apply.

C. Violation of Sections 13 to 27 - On the first offense, a fine of not more than One Hundred thousand pesos
(Php100,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court shall be
imposed.

 On the second offense, a fine of Two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) or imprisonment of not
more than two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court shall be imposed.
 On the third offense, in addition to a fine of not more than Four Hundred thousand pesos (Php400,000.00)
or imprisonment of not more than three (3) years, or both at the discretion of the court, the business permits
and licenses, in the case of a business entity or establishment shall be revoked or cancelled.
 In the case of a business entity or establishment, the owner, president, manager or officials thereof shall be
liable.
 If the guilty officer is an alien, he shall summarily be deported after serving his sentence and shall be
forever barred from re-entering from the Philippines.

4. What are the functions that the Disaster Risk Reduction Management office should perform given the emerging
challenges brought by disaster? Give at least 3 functions.

 Avoid hazards and mitigate their potential impacts by reducing vulnerabilities and exposure and enhancing
capacities of communities.
 Establish and strengthen capacities of communities to anticipate, cope and recover from the negative
impacts of emergency occurrences and disasters.
 Provide life preservation and meet the basic subsistence needs of affected population based on acceptable
standards during or immediately after a disaster.

5. In Senior Citizen Laws, what are the government assistances that the government shall provide to the Senior
Citizen? State at least 3.

 Health- “The DOH, in coordination with local government units (LGUs), NGOs and POs for senior
citizens, shall institute a national health program and shall provide an integrated health service for senior
citizens. It shall train community-based health workers among senior citizens and health personnel to
specialize in the geriatric care and health problems of senior citizens.
 Social Pension- “Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to Five hundred
pesos (Php500.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens, subject to a
review every two (2) years by Congress, in consultation with the DSWD.
 Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage- “All indigent senior citizens shall be covered by the national health
insurance program of PhilHealth. The LGUs where the indigent senior citizens reside shall allocate the
necessary funds to ensure the enrollment of their indigent senior citizens in accordance with the pertinent
laws and regulations.

REACTION PAPER: Inter-professional Team-Based Primary and Community Care

Inter-professional working has thus become popular following pivotal policies drafted to structurally re-shape the
health care system and influence how professional groups work together. Collaboration between professionals and
their teams, mutual respect, the sharing of knowledge, skills, decisions and the recognition of the contribution of
participating professional/teams highlight the integrated nature of inter-professional work. Collaboration among
health care teams may improve patient education and patient engagement in their care, including behavioral changes
such as information seeking and effective delivery of information, patient involvement in decision-making and
patient participation in self-care.

Inter-professional collaboration has been defined by many. However, most authorities would accept the definition of
inter-professional collaboration to be when: “Multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work
together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care” (WHO, 2010).
Loosely defined, inter-professional collaboration is a partnership that starts with the patient and includes all involved
healthcare providers working together to deliver patient and family centered care. The term “inter-professional” is
becoming one of the most widely used terms in conjunction with “collaboration” in the healthcare vernacular and is
also emerging in the literature as a hot topic of focus for healthcare researchers. The term "inter-professional" is the
updated version of older terms such as, interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary. According to a
certain study, qualitatively, collaborative teams are reported to demonstrate improved sharing of evidence-based
practices between professions, improved decision-making, and increased innovation. Quantitatively, collaborative
teamwork may lead to reduced length of hospital stay, improved compliance with standards of drug prescription,
improved quality audit results, and improved symptom and psychosocial management. The consensus among health
care experts from a variety of professions and perspectives is that a collaboratively practicing workforce will be
more responsive, efficient, and considerate of patient, family, and community roles, as well as providing improved
care.

In the video, I observed that when communicating information to patients, approaches that are consistent,
responsive, and ensure understanding enable patients to participate in care decisions. Some healthcare professionals
said in the interview that “It is patients who should be the primary actors in medical decision-making, and health
professionals should adopt a supportive role’’. Learning needs, desires, capacity, and style can vary greatly between
patients. It is therefore necessary for the health care team to coordinate among its member’s methods for educating
and instructing patients in appropriate and consistent ways. These methods include when, how, and by whom
information is imparted and is therefore a collaborative task for the interdisciplinary team. Also, it is evident that
fostering collaborative teams may also benefit staff and the organizations they work in. Staff satisfaction and
retention is higher in health care organizations where staff members engage in a collaborative culture of quality and
safety. Other benefits to staff include greater perceptions of empowerment and recognition. This is because
collaborative teams generally have a more horizontal rather than hierarchical power structures, more open and
inclusive communication, and greater levels of role understanding, respect, and appreciation between members.

Improving inter-professional collaboration regarding care plan development calls for an integral approach including
patient and professional related factors, interpersonal, organizational, and external factors. Shared talking about
patient goals, formulating action plans, and developing a patient-centered care plan can be considered useful
strategies to integrate the patient perspective in the decision-making process. This is because ideally, within shared
goal setting, the patient discusses and sets health-related goals together with a health care professional. After setting
goals with the patient, the health care professional discusses these goals in the inter-professional team meeting. The
team subsequently flows into action planning and negotiation on who best carries out each action. Based on the
patient’s goals and formulated actions, the team develops a patient-centered care plan, which can be seen as a
collaborative and dynamic document.

Yes, I observed collaboration with other members of the health team because there is reliance on teams from a
variety of specialties (e.g., nursing, physician specialties, physical therapy, social work) to care for patients. They
conduct meetings in order to aggregate, modify, combine, and apply a greater amount and variety of knowledge to
make decisions, solve problems, generate ideas, and execute tasks more effectively and efficiently. I also observed
that care pathways has a major role on enhancing teamwork by promoting coordination, collaboration,
communication and decision making to achieve optimal healthcare outcomes. Therefore, it resulted to an improved
staff knowledge, communication, documentation and inter-professional relations. Also, care pathways contribute to
patient-centered care and increase patient satisfaction.

REACTION PAPER: Inter-professional Collaboration in Public Health | Social Work, Nursing & Dietetics

In regard to public health, building partnerships across health professions and community organizations is an
important step in addressing complex health issues. Effective inter-professional collaboration is both necessary and
critical, given the complexity of public health issues and the multiple groups of people that are involved.

Inter-professional teamwork is an important model for delivering health care to patients. As the name implies,
teamwork in health care employs the practices of collaboration and enhanced communication to expand the
traditional roles of health workers and to make decisions as a unit that works toward a common goal. More readily
than traditional models of healthcare, collaborative healthcare can address the growing expectations of healthcare
users and current healthcare challenges, such as an increase in chronic diseases and population ageing, both of which
require of greater collaboration among healthcare actors to be properly addressed. Collaboration within different
healthcare networks, such as professionals-patients, inter-professionals, leadership, and healthcare research, has
been introduced as an innovative model to improve healthcare performance, considering different aspects such as
social sustainability improvement and comprehensive quality care.

The video showed the collaboration of work within the roles of nurse, social worker and a nutritionist on rendering
health care. They provided information on how their job interacts with each other by exemplifying some cases that
they’ve encountered. Also, they described their daily experiences in work that gave us insights on how each of them
fulfills the responsibility in the work place. However, the presentation could have been better if they put some actual
clips of them interacting with their clients rather than standing up the whole time.

From what I heard from Nurse Kim; some clients tend to be uncooperative by not showing up during a visit. In this
case, the effective strategy that can be applied is a better establishment of patient-provider relationship for them to
deliver a better care management for their clients.

Yes, there is a collaboration with the nurse, social worker and nutritionist because they presented how flexible their
work especially in the case about a newborn baby. Through this, I can infer that the combined expertise is an
effective factor on devising care plans that will help them avoid a lot of errors, improve patient’s health outcome,
provide patient satisfaction and better delivery of care.