Margie T Logarta books herself in for a comprehensive executive check-up at one of the Philippines’ top medical facilities

The bedside manner of Filipino nurses and doctors is world-renowned. Over the years, when people learn I come from the archipelago that produces these healthcare workers they gush without reserve about their warm and caring brand of service.

It’s not surprising then that, since reaching some significant milestones in my life, I make it a point to fly home on a regular basis to undergo tests. Submitting myself to what I know to be highly skilled expertise with a heart may not drive away the uncertainty that comes with any visit to the hospital, but it does succeed somewhat in calming those pesky nerves.

Four years ago, I tried out the express executive check-up offered by St Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, Metro Manila, and came away highly impressed with the experience. Quite recently, when a follow-up was long overdue, I had no second thoughts in contacting them again but decided to go for a more comprehensive screening at the new St Luke’s Medical Center Global City (SLMC).

Opened in early 2010 in the fast-evolving Bonifacio Global City, the facility marks a meaningful step into the future for what began as an Episcopalian-founded clinic set up more than a century ago, sworn to provide quality patient care. Continuing that pledge, SLMC is equipped with virtually all medical speciality departments, including cardiovascular medicine, neuroscience, cancer, ophthalmology, digestive and liver disease among others, all complemented by state-of-the-art technologies that produce the most accurate results.

While older sister St Luke’s Quezon City has enjoyed accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI) since 2003 – placing it on the same footing with the best US and international medical centres – SLMC is due for inspection in November by a JCI team that will apply the same rigorous scrutiny to pronounce its operations world class. Its long track record in the healthcare industry and the reliability of the faculty and roster of practitioners have afforded immediate affiliation with institutions such as the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Checking in

I marked February 2 and 3 as the most convenient time to get a status report on my body. Once I had booked my flight, I contacted a friend connected with SLMC to inform her of my intentions, and soon after I received an email from the staff of the Health and Wellness Center, saying they would be in touch with the guidelines for preparation. Two days before my visit these were sent to me, including reminders to bring along a jogging outfit for the treadmill exercise test, and to “avoid caffeinated foods such as coffee, tea, cola or chocolates”.

At exactly 1pm on February 2, I appeared at the 7th floor reception of the Center. I couldn’t help wondering if this was a deluxe hotel I was about to enter rather than a medical facility. That impression deepened when a guest relations executive led me into a sunny hall that had the feel of an airport lounge, perhaps because of the large picture windows, a buffet island and sofa-type seating. Not having had time to fill in my health history form at home, I picked up a bottle of mineral water and made myself comfortable at one of the tables to jog my memory about childhood illnesses and reasons for the passing of relatives.

In the middle of this exercise, Ines Almeda, my customer care officer, introduced herself, saying that she would escort me during my two days of tests, and as soon as I was ready, we could begin. This we soon did, starting off with my getting weighed and measured for height, and being interviewed by the admitting physician, who asked me my reasons for the check-up. I told him plainly that it had been too long since I had been thoroughly looked at, and having suffered a bad fall from a horse in August of last year, I had been feeling out of sync and more prone to sickness than was my habit.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly with a chest x-ray and a gynaecological check, skipping the digital mammography and breast ultrasound, which had already been conducted in another hospital a few weeks before. With my blood pressure somewhat on the high side – due, I learned later, to not having eaten lunch (bad girl) – the doctor at the ECG and stress test centre suggested we defer these for the next day.

With the consultation and testing areas on the same floor as the “hotel rooms”, as SLMC staff refer to the Center’s accommodation, I and my laptop trolley bag did not have far to go. I was assigned Room 701, in what was designated as the South Wing, which was one of 23 units, consisting of six deluxe private rooms, one deluxe suite, two executive private rooms and 14 private rooms. The same configuration was to be found in the North Wing on the 7th and 10th floors. The name of my attending physician, Dr Erlyn C Demerre, was posted on the door. (Coincidentally, Dr Demerre supervised my programme four years before.)

Ines left me with a nurse – her badge identified her as “Sunshine” – who glowed with cheer as she listed the various amenities of my room: a mini-fridge, 32-inch flat-screen TV and DVD player, and a bed whose positions could be controlled digitally (like a plane’s business class seat). As my room looked out to a roof garden, she advised me to keep the day shades down for privacy. She also explained the best way to “harvest” my body samples (that would go under the microscope) and reminded me to start the required fasting around 8.30 or 9pm, no later. In what I thought was the height of consideration, gastroenterologist Dr Rachel Marie Cruz, who was to perform a “flexible sigmoidoscopy” (screening of the colon) on me in the morning, popped by to carefully explain the procedure. Let’s just say I wasn’t looking forward to it, but when situations look like they are going to be unpleasant, I always chalk it up to the “journalistic experience”.

The mini-lecture done, and my stomach urgently reminding me to fill it up as it was already mid-afternoon, I went to check out the food court on the lower ground floor. What I found was more than adequate, even featuring Bizu, a chain known for its exquisite French macaroons and delicious breads. However, remembering the looming examinations, I decided to go for a barbecue chicken set at the Marketplace – sans dessert. Other amenities on the premises included a BDO bank, and a supplies store, which I was disappointed to find did not carry rubber sandals since no slippers were provided in the room.

Having been up since early morning, I was beginning to wane and decided to get some shut-eye. The bed was quite comfortable so tuning out was instantaneous. Once, during my nap, a nurse came in to take my blood pressure, which showed improvement, bringing home the fact that one should avoid skipping meals. Dinner was delivered at 6.10pm, a low-fibre meal of fish, rice and a blob of gelatin. Remembering the fasting duty schedule, I consumed what was on the tray, and caught up on some emails, having no difficulty with SLMC’s speedy wifi access. At 10pm – not my usual bedtime schedule – I turned in, aware that the second phase of my programme would resume at 5am.

Testing times

After an entire night dreaming of forbidden foods – I had my teeth clamped on a burger, then remembered in the nick of time – I woke just as a nursing team entered to prepare me for the colon screening later in the morning, a procedure that also helped me provide the specimens they needed for the lab. A technician quickly showed up on their heels to draw blood.

Ines appeared, ready to resume her shepherding duties through my programme, which kicked off with an ultrasound of my gall bladder, liver and kidney, followed by the fibersigmoidoscopy (while sensitively performed, still a weird sensation). Next came a UGIS test, where one is asked to lie on a flat bed, down a vanilla-flavoured barium liquid several times, followed by a Sprite Zero, all the while being swivelled around like a martini. I believe this was to check for any ulcers or abnormalities in my upper gastrointestinal tract – it was an interesting experience. I returned to the stress test room and managed to go through the treadmill trial uneventfully.

The final screening, a last-minute addition by Dr Demerre, was an echocardiogram, involving soundwaves being projected into my heart and recorded by an ultrasound machine (thus the reference to “echo”), which reveals the current condition of that dynamic organ. Lying still in the dimly lit treatment room and hearing what has to be one of Mother Nature’s most complex plumbing systems at work was simply mesmerising.

Moment of truth

A chicken salad sandwich breakfast, which I promptly wolfed down, was waiting for me back in my room. A knock on the door announced the dietician’s arrival, and together we discussed the changes in food choices I would have to make, based on the findings that were emerging. You guessed it – it’s those green, leafy veggies and lean meat taking centre stage again.

The rest of the morning passed quickly with a short nap, and I woke up after midday to find the lunch tray had been unobtrusively placed on the table. There was tender fish for the main with, again, a gelatin dessert. Close to my departure time in the early afternoon, a smiling Dr Demerre and her assisting nurse swept into the room to share the results. She had good news and not so good news.

I certainly won’t bore you with the details, except to say that if you want to start off a new year right, an executive check-up is the way to go. What a gift, knowing what’s working within and, more importantly, what’s not, in order to get back in the best possible shape.

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London are fast approaching. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll be training from now on, a tough task but I’m grateful for another chance to score in life’s game.

The low-down

There are a raft of packages available on the hospital website in the Executive Check-up section. Besides the annual health screening, more targeted tests to scout for indications of prevalent diseases such as cancer, diabetes and stroke are also offered. But here are the details of the programme that I went through:

PACKAGE B (Inpatient)

Features

  • Room and board (overnight)
  • Admission kit
  • Complete physical examination

Lab studies

  • Complete blood count

Chemistry

  • Blood chemistry (CHEM 8)

Serology

  • Anti-HCV
  • Hepatitis B screening

Microsopy

  • Urinalysis
  • Routine stool test
  • X-ray studies
  • Chest X-ray (PA & Lateral)
  • Upper gastrointestinal series

Ultrasonic examinations

  • Liver, gall bladder and kidney among others

Breast examination

  • Mammography or breast ultrasound

Cardiac examinations

  • Resting electrocardiogram
  • Treadmill exercise test

Endoscopy

  • Fibersigmoidoscopy

Optional examination

  • Whole body PET scan

RATES (including professional fees)

Male

Private  – Php33,285 (US$773)

Suite – Php41,475 (US$963)

Presidential suite – Php48,875 (US$1,158)

Female

Private – Php37,485 (US$870)

Suite – Php45,885 (US$1,066)

Presidential suite – Php54,180 (US$1,258)

CONTACT

St Luke’s Medical Center, 32nd St, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634, Philippines

tel +63 2 789 7700

www.stluke.com.ph