(Source: Quality Manual QM-IDH-03-01, Revision Code: 12, Effectivity January 02, 2025)
IDH was conceived on November 20, 1968 and after two years of planning, actual construction and procurement of materials, equipment and Human Resources. IDH was blessed and opened its doors to the community on May 24, 1971. It started with 150 beds and 20 bassinets with complete secondary level of care facilities, both diagnostic and therapeutic in the field of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetric-Gynecology and Pediatrics. With the opening of the school year 1972-1973 IDH became the clinical area for nursing and paramedical students of then Iloilo Doctors School of Nursing and Midwifery (now the Iloilo Doctors’ College): operated bit its sister company Integrated Educational Corporation, Inc.
Over the years the need for expansion grew not only in terms of facilities and services for patient care but also for medical education. IDH expanded into a consortium with the city’s state college to provide the clinical experience for medical students. This consortium was the first of its kind the city between a government state college and a private hospital. The agreement prompted IDH’s management to expand its capabilities to house and serve an additional 70 private and semi-private beds to meet the needs of the increasing number of private patients. The annex was completed and inaugurated on July 27, 1976 turned to IDH into a 240-bed medical center. During this period, IDH capabilities consisted of departmentalized services in Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics-Gynecology (Ob-Gyne), Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat (EENT) and Pediatrics for both In and Out – Patients. In line with this, IDH has a duly accredited residency training program in Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics and OB-Gyne, and trained personnel to handle specialized task in the respective departments. To complete its services, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine was created to hasten the recovery of patients and help them return to useful social and community life. Further expansions were made to create five additional nursing stations, which are the Annex A, Annex B, Medical Surgical Annex Stations, Medical Service Ward and the Surgical Service Ward.
Four years after its major expansion, IDH felt the need for more space for tits various expansion programs. In April 1980, an annex to the front of the Second floor was constructed and was finished after three months. The area was utilized for the Accounting Office, nurses’ conference room, coronary
rehabilitation unit with its stress test machine and Ultrasound Room and Office. These two additions gave both to two additional departments, the Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrocardiography (ECG) and Stress Test Department and th4 Ultrasound Department under the supervision of the Diagnostic Imaging Department.
Starting in the early 1990’s IDH felt the need to upgrade its medical equipment to kept abreast with the new technology, it was the first in the city to acquire a Computed Tomography Scanning (CT Scan) diagnostic unit, a Mammography Unit to diagnose breast cancer and other related ailments for women. The Laboratory department was upgraded with new equipment to expand the quality and quantity of test performed. Late 1990’s saw the expansion of additional rooms for the hospital with the opening of 40 additional private rooms, the MC-2 and MC-3 areas. It acquired a new Acuson Aspen for its Echocardiography Section and purchased a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); the first to serve the region.
In 1998, the Tony Chan Memorial Eye Center [owned and manage by Panay Eye Center, Inc.] collaborated with the hospital to establish the first fully equipped Eye Center in the city. The Panay Eye Center, regularly upgrades it equipment with 95% of ophthalmologists in Panay being affiliated with the eye center, they continue to answer the Ilonggo patients’ eye care needs by helping their doctors make an early, accurate diagnosis and offer proper, top-quality treatment.
In 2003 IDH collaborated with the local physicians and their sister company IDC and launched the Iloilo Doctors’ Nuclear Medicine Services, Inc. which provided the first Nuclear Medicine Services in the region. The following year satellite laboratories were established in the different malls of the city to further expands diagnostic care. Cognizant with the idea that a Quality Management System last July 2007 and became the 1st Tertiary 300-bed hospital in Western Visayas to be certified to the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System.
Improvement of the hospital facilities and services continued, in its response to preserve the environment, last 2008 IDH constructed a Sewage Treatment Plan. For the year 2010 the hospital acquired a new Mammogram and opened the new wing of the Operating Room with three (3) additional OPR Suites, a Post Anesthesia Care Unit and an immediate Surgical Care Unit. Then in 2011 upgrade of the CT-Scan to the 128-slice model was realized. Improvement of the Security and safety was implemented in 2012 by installing CCTV, fire prevention sprinklers and Smoke detectors. Construction of the Histopathology Laboratory and the Acute Stroke Unit was commenced 2013, in 2014 it added more specialized nursing units-Behavioral Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Chemotherapeutic Nursing Unit was located with improved facilities. For 2015, the Laboratory and Radiology Information System were incorporated to improve delivery of diagnostic results. The Hospital Information System was started 2016 and completed a year later. Then in 2018 the ground breaking of the new Medical Arts building for Physician Clinics and construction was commenced. An agreement was made in 2019 with Pi Energy for the installation of Solar panels for Solar Energy.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 initiated a paradigm shift in patient care delivery. New health protocols, combined with shortages of nurses and physician residents, created significant financial challenges for the hospital. These constraints necessitated the closure of certain nursing area, including the Behavioral Care Unit, Medical-Surgical Wards and Service Wards. Despite these challenges, the hospital was fortunate t have supportive partners aligned with its vision and vision. In 2021, the hospital broadened its reach by partnering in clinical trials and opening physician clinics. This growth continued in 2022 with the Panay Eye Center expanding its care facilities. Thru the assistance of its sister corporation and several board members, the hospital acquire a new Ultrasound machine and CT Scanner in 2023, further improving diagnostic capabilities. Despite challenges, the hospital remains steadfast in its vision of becoming the premier provider of quality health care in Western Visayas, a commitment that demands sacrifices and close collaboration with its stakeholders. By 2024, the hospital reduced its bed capacity to 200 to align with its manpower and infrastructural capabilities.
With God’s grace, IDH has maintained its status as a DOH-Accredited Level 3 Facility, PHIC Accredited, and with an ISO Certified Quality management System that continuously reviews, plans, and improves its processes.