De Los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC) celebrates its milestone 45th year this November as a premier Philippine hospital providing quality healthcare services at affordable costs.
From its humble roots as a 30-bed capacity family-owned clinic specializing in orthopedic cases to a 150-bed tertiary hospital with over 350 active and visiting multi-specialist physicians, DLSMC has continued to evolve and expand over the years, all while remaining true to its original vision and mission – to provide quality affordable healthcare.
“After 45 years, we are proud that the institution has withstood the test of time and continues to be one of the well-known private hospitals in Quezon City,” shared Raul C. Pagdanganan, DLSMC President and CEO. “We look forward to the many possibilities in store for the hospital in the years to come.”
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Remembering the Past
DLSMC first opened its doors as a clinic on Sept. 17, 1949 founded by Dr. Jose V. de los Santos Sr., who was known as the Father of Philippine Orthopedics along with his wife, Pacita V. de los Santos.
The couple founded the clinic to establish a private practice that specialized in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with bone abnormalities in support of their two daughters who were stricken with polio.
The De Los Santos Clinic in 1961
“My uncle, Dr. JV de los Santos, trained for orthopedics in the US and Germany in the 1930s. When he came back to the Philippines from his training, he first built up his practice as an orthopedic surgeon by working for the government. He was a pioneer in the field and became the first director for the only orthopedic hospital in the country at the time – National Orthopedic Hospital,” recallee Dr. Nilo C. de los Santos, DLSMC VP for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.
“When he had established his practice, my aunt Pacita brought up the idea of building their own clinic along E. Rodriguez Avenue,” he added. “That was the beginning of De Los Santos Clinic over 60 years ago.”
At the start, the clinic focused on orthopedic cases, but as Dr. JV de los Santos’ two young sons grew up, pursued medicine, and became doctors themselves, he decided it was time to expand the clinic to accommodate more patients and specialties.
On Nov. 17, 1973, the clinic re-opened to the public as a full-fledged 150-bed hospital renamed De Los Santos General Hospital.
Partnering with MPHHI
Since 1973, DLSMC has focused on providing quality healthcare for a wide range of patients. In June 2013, the hospital partnered with Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI), and became the seventh hospital under MPHHI’s banner.
Under MPHHI, DLSMC has undergone exciting upgrades in the last five years. These include structural renovations to the main building, converting the adjacent building to the Medical Arts Building with over 50 doctors’ clinics, enhancements to patient rooms, and upgrading hospital facilities and technologies.
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De Los Santos Medical Center today
“A lot has changed in DLSMC since it became part of the Metro Pacific Group,” Pagdanganan relatee. “Most of the regular patients from the past would come back and be pleasantly surprised at how much has improved in the last five years.”
Alongside the hospital’s physical expansions, specialty centers were introduced for specific diagnostic and therapeutic services such as the Eye Center, Arthritis Center, Memory Center, Dermatology Center, Women’s Care Center, Rehabilitation Medicine and Sports Center, Wellness Center, and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Center. It also became the first private, level 3 hospital in Quezon City to offer the PhilHealth Z Benefit Package for kidney transplantation.
In 2018, DLSMC opened its first Catheterization Laboratory Unit for interventional cardiology and interventional radiology procedures. They also acquired a brand new 128-slice CT scan, the second unit in their diagnostic imaging center. They have also expanded their Intensive Care Unit and added a new Telemetry Unit.
Looking to the Future
DLSMC has exciting plans for the future. Structural facilities upgrades will continue as well as an increase in the number of beds to accommodate more patients.
The hospital also plans to offer coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2019, as well a Cancer Center that will carry the full range of services from diagnostics to treatment to palliative care.
Parallel to structural and therapeutic service enhancement, DLSMC is also investing in further developing clinical excellence and patient experience. Patient feedback is very important and through DLSMC’s Patient Experience Department, input is used to further enhance and improve hospital services.
The institution also continually adds to its roster the best and brightest physicians, nurses, ancillary and administrative staff to support its growth and expansion.
“It’s been quite a journey but as I always say, ‘the best is yet to come’,” stated Pagdanganan. “Together with our skilled and experienced doctors, we will continue to serve the community with healthcare that they deserve – accessible, affordable, and high quality.”
For inquiries about DLSMC and wide range of packages and services, contact 89-DLSMC (35763) ext. 3190 or [email protected] or www.facebook.com/