Q. What Presidential Decree established
the Philippine Heart Center?
A. Presidential Decree No. 673 (by Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos in
1975)
Q. What was the original name of
the Philippine Heart Center?
A. Philippine Heart Center for Asia (the "Asia" was dropped
in 1986)
Q. When was the Philippine Heart
Center inaugurated?
A. February 14, 1975 (Valentine's Day)
Q. The inauguration of the PHC was
graced by the presence of many world-renowned cardiovascular experts. Who
are they?
A. Dr. Christiaan Barnard, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Donald Effler,
and Dr. Charles Bailey, among others.
Q. Who was the first Director of
the PHC?
A. Dr. Avenilo P. Aventura (1974-1986), a cardiovascular surgeon
who performed many pioneering operations in the Philippines including the
first successful renal transplantation in 1970, the first CABG in 1972,
and developed and implanted the first ASEAN bioprosthesis, the PHCA porcine
valve.
Q. Who was the first patient to
be admitted to the PHC?
A. Ms. Imelda Francisco (April 14, 1975)
Q. Who was the first aorto-coronary
bypass patient of the PHC?
A. Mr. Cornelio Ramirez (May 15, 1975); he is still alive and active
Q. In what year did the PHC start
developing bio-prosthetic valves and prototype medical equipment?
A. 1977. A total of 77 PHC valves were implanted until February
1986. In 1997 PHC resumed its bioprosthetic valve program.
Q. Who was the first woman Director
of the PHC?
A. Dr. Esperanza I. Cabral (1986-1992)
Q. In what year was the Candy Stripers
Program (Volunteer Student Workers) initiated?
A. 1987. Every summer vacation, Candy Stripers are exposed to the
special and unique Philippine Heart Center way of healthcare delivery.
Q. In what year was coronary angioplasty
and balloon valvuloplasty initiated at the PHC?
A. Coronary angioplasty was first done in 1983, and balloon valvuloplasty
in 1989.
Q. What was the name of the pioneering
heart care program on television (commended by the World Health Organization
as the first and only one of its kind in the world)?
A. HeartWatch (1991)
Q. What special citation was received
by the PHC in 1993?
A. A Center of Excellence (one of only 33 well performing agencies
of the government)
Q. How many cardiologists and cardiovascular
surgeons have completed formal specialty training at the PHC from 1975
to 1997?
A. 400 doctors. The PHC also trained 275 Department of Health doctors
and nurses on Basic Cardiovascular Care from 1995-1997.
Q. Who is the current Director of
the PHC?
A. Dr. Ludgerio D. Torres (1997 - present). A cardiovascular surgeon;
TOYM Awardee in Medicine, 1973; Class valedictorian, UST Medicine and Board
Topnotcher, 1962.
Q. How many operations were performed
at the PHC in 1997?
A. 2,370 (960 open-heart cases, and 1,410 closed-heart and general
cases). From 1983 to 1997, the PHC has performed 32,146 operations; 13,318
on charity/indigent cardiovascular patients.
Q. How much did the PHC spend for
the medical treatment and hospitalization of indigent patients in 1997?
A. P205.317 Million. In 1997, the PHC treated 42,856 charity out-patients
and performed 888 charity cases.
Q. What hospital in the Southeast
Asian region has the biggest oval track and world-class facilities for
cardiac and physical rehabilitation of patients?
A. The Philippine Heart Center
 
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