Pastilan! Living the dog-eat-dog world of a Global Pinoy!

Pinay nurse’s death in California jail highlights safety issues - Yahoo! Philippines News:

"The recent death of a Filipina nurse detailed to a California jail has raised concerns over the “disturbing trend of violence' faced by medical care professionals in potentially violent workplaces. On Oct. 28, registered nurse Cynthia Palomata, 55, succumbed to the head injuries she sustained after she was attacked by an inmate at the Martinez county jail, where she had been assigned since 2005."

A report by the Asian Journal, a US-based news website for the Filipino community, identified the suspect as Aaron Nygaard, in jail for burglary. According to the report, Nygaard faked a seizure attack to get out of the waiting room, then, without provocation, he hit Palomata on the head with a table lamp. The nurse was brought to John Muir Medical Center, where she underwent surgery for swelling in the brain due to blood clot. On Oct. 28, however, Palomata was taken off life support and declared dead. The suspect will be charged with murder, the report said. Palomata, a native of Nabas town in Aklan, had been working for the Contra Costa Health Services in California for over 20 years. She left behind a husband and a grown son. "The suddenness of the incident left us, her family, in shock. She was unaware that when she left home that day, she would never see her family again. We miss her terribly," Palomata’s brother Cyril Barraca Jr. was quoted as saying in the Asian Journal report. Dr. William Walker, director of Contra Costa Health Services, said in a statement that they will continue to evaluate safety procedures in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office. ‘Disturbing trend of violence’ Following Palomata’s death, the California Nurses’ Association (CNA) raised concerns about the safety of nurses assigned to potentially dangerous facilities. In a statement, the CNA called for policy reforms to curb what it called a “disturbing trend of violence" in facilities where medical care is provided. “Workplace violence is a major public health concern that has grown substantially in the past decade," the CNA said. It cited data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that the healthcare industry registered the highest incidence of workplace violence among all industrial sectors, being responsible for 45 percent of the two million incidents of workplace violence incidents that have occurred annually in the US between 1993 and 1999.

An Emergency Nurses Association survey released in 2009 also showed that more than 50 percent of emergency room nurses had experienced violence from patients and more than one-fourth had experienced 20 or more violent incidents in the past three years. Citing research, the CNA also said that factors such as long wait times, a shortage of nurses, drug and alcohol use by patients, and treatment of psychiatric patients all contributed to violence in the ER. “We can no longer tolerate inadequate security measures which threaten not only RNs and other staff, but also put families and other patients at risk," said CNA president emeritus Kay McVay. “Violence takes a significant toll. Prevention is essential to creating a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and a safer workplace for healthcare workers," she said. She also said that preventive measures were needed to reduce the loss of experienced staff members, who leave because of assaults and threats of violence. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration define workplace violence as any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the workplace. Part of the job In a separate interview, Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) president Dr. Teresita Barcelo said the violence that nurses face, even in the Philippines, is “real" — and this is why preventive mechanisms need to be instituted even as early as when prospective nurses are still studying for their college degrees. “Violence is one of our job hazards. We know that. That’s why kami na ang nag-iingat, because these people (patients in potentially violent worksites) cannot be relied upon," Barcelo said. Barcelo said the nursing curriculum includes a course on psychiatric nursing, where students are taught how to develop a “therapeutic relationship" with their patients. Barcelo admitted that certain incidents of violence — such as that experienced by Palomata — cannot be expected and are difficult to prevent. Even so, she added, developing this kind of relationship with patients may significantly reduce the occurrence of violent acts. But even outside these facilities, nurses, particularly in the Philippines and in some countries in the Middle East, become the subject of crimes, according to Barcelo. She cited the case of Florence (not her real name), a volunteer nurse in South Upi town in Maguindanao who was reportedly gang-raped on September 27. (See: Report: Maguindanao gang-raped nurse undergoes surgery) “It is important that part of the orientation in the hospitals and other facilities should be to inform medical professionals of the possible dangers of working there. This should be part of the protocol of hospitals," Barcelo explained. Nursing: popular because lucrative? In the last five years, some 82,000 nurses have indicated their desire to work in the US by taking the National Council Licensure Examination, the licensure exam for nurses in the US. The Department of Health said a big surge of nurses working overseas started in 1994, when some 100,000 nurses left the country. From 2000 to 2009, about 120,000 more were deployed abroad. In light of increased opportunities for overseas work, nursing remains a popular course for college students, with over 600,000 students taking it in 400 nursing schools in 2007, according to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. Records from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration meanwhile show 13,000 newly hired Filipino nurses were deployed overseas in 2009, making it a top occupational category for OFWs, second only to household service work.—DM/JV, GMANews.TV

Pinoy expat bloggers to launch 2 OFW social service groups | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: "MANILA, Philippines – Two action-oriented groups aimed at delivering social services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be launched in December.

Pinoy Expats OFW Blog Awards Inc. (PEBA), an alliance of international Filipino bloggers, announced the launching of its New Media Network Group and OFW Alliance Action Group.

“The PEBA New Media Network Group will post news events and stories through video blogs and articles that are relevant to the lives of Filipino migrant workers,” said Program Director Felix Jigs Segre, PEBA’s head of Public Relations and Media Affairs."

‎"The strength of the Philippines as a country is not in Malacanang or in military camps, it is in the heart of the Filipino people and the unity of the families in a holy place we call - Home."




Very true!

KaBlogs - Blogs ng mga Kabayan sa Abroad: Kahit Anong Selpon, Basta NOKIA: "Did anyone in your family asked you to buy them a mobile phone?

'Daddy, can you buy me a Nokia phone?' Does this words sound familiar? Does your spouse or kids asked you to buy them a Nokia mobile phone abroad?



Even my 'kasambahay' (household help) in Antipolo has asked me if I can buy her a new Nokia phone, as she talked to me over the phone, Inday said :

'Kuya, pakibilhan nyo naman po ako ng bagong selpon, kahit anong selpon� basta Nokia at may MP3' (Brother, please purchase for me a new cellphone, any brand but it must be Nokia and with MP3)"

There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines.

Each year, the Philippines sends out more than a million of its nationals to work abroad through its overseas employment program. Others leave to become permanent residents of their country of destination. Overseas Filipinos are typically known to be as doctors, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, engineers & architects, entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, students, and domestic helpers.

According to estimates by the Central Bank of the Philippines, overseas Filipinos are expected to send back $14.7 billion in remittances to their ancestral homeland in 2007, up from the $13 billion in 2006"

Check out the latest news update on Pinoy Expats OFW Blog Awards on ABS CBN News.

An American married to a Filipina had a dismal experience with one of the clinics in Manila. His wife and daughter were processing travel documents for Saudi Arabia when the wife was found unfit to travel causing much delay to obtain the visa.

Dr. Jade Israel of Christian E. Cangco Medical Clinic & Laboratory located in Makati City informed that the wife has a terrifying infectious disease that compromised her decency as a woman and declared her unfit to travel. Allegedly, Cangco Clinic conveyed that the disease is incurable and so when the woman inquired about her options, it was mentioned that 1,500 USD would be paid by the clinic as a penalty should they issue a certificate despite the positive result, leaving the woman wondering about the significance of this information to her case.

Allegedly, the clinic was being very careful not to directly imply to pay the fine in exchange of the “fit to travel” certificate. When she finally indicated her intention to seek a second opinion, the said doctor insisted that a second opinion was not allowed and that she was the final authority for declaring if the woman was fit or unfit to travel.

The Filipina was devastated. She immediately informed her husband about the result then went back to Iloilo to consult with her long-time OB/Gyn doctor and related what was told by the said clinic. The OB/Gyn doctor was surprised and immediately doubted the diagnosis based on the history of the patient. The woman’s doctor immediately contacted Dr.Israel and inquired why the patient was denied the opportunity to seek a second opinion, Dr.Israel claimed that there is a doctor in San Lazaro Hospital who provides second opinion for the GAMCO-accredited clinics on certain occasions but it is not applicable to her case. The woman’s doctor performed another independent blood test and it turned out negative but arranged anyway with the doctor in San Lazaro Hospital to see the woman for another testing.

The husband was forced to fly to the Philippines upon learning that his wife had been in a minor car accident while driving back to their home as a result of her severe emotional distress. He then immediately went to San Lazaro Hospital with his wife to take the same test withoutnotifying Cangco Clinic, the lab result turned out negative as well. The doctor in San Lazaro prepared a certification addressed to Cangco Clinic that she is negative and was never exposed to such a disease.

The results from San Lazaro Hospital and Iloilo Specialist Hospital challenged the outcome of the test done in the said clinic but allegedly, Dr. Israel was unrelenting about the mistake. Then they both agreed that his wife would take the same test again only if there would be two blood samples to be sent to two different GAMCO-accredited clinics, the results turned out negative as well. The clinic finally certified her “fit to travel” although the cost to the couple had already been damaging specially the psychological disturbance caused by the mistake. Dr. Christian Cangco, the Medical Director of the said clinic, promised that the examining physician will be dealt strongly and a reprimand will be instigated.

When Dr. Israel was notified about the issue through a phone conversation and was requested to provide her side of the story, she indicated that the matter would be handled by Dr. Cangco and declined to comment further. Dr. Cangco explained, through the phone, that their clinic reversed the result and indicated that the travel of the patient “was not delayed anyway and that she was able to proceed to Saudi Arabia after receiving the certificate.”

Israel also explained their laboratory equipment were just recently purchased and assured that their clinic is certified by ISO 9001 and TUV. When asked if he is aware of any direct or indirect solicitation in return of releasing medical certificates despite the failing laboratory results, he strongly commented that he does not condone any solicitation. He assured that this does not happen in Cangco Clinic.