A Healthy Population Means a Stronger Economy

Q: How does Clínica de Mérida work to continuously improve its health services?
A: Clínica de Mérida’s goal is to maintain the infrastructure and resources to provide high-quality medical attention with the best services. We base our work on professional competence, opportune medical attention, patient safety and dignified treatment. In terms of professional competence, our clinical and administrative teams are constantly updating their capabilities and knowledge. Clínica de Mérida continuously looks for a way to improve wait times and other areas of medical attention.
We consider patient safety key to our operations. Although, there is a certain degree of risk inherent in each step of the healthcare process and adverse events may occur due to clinical practices, products, procedures or the system itself, we carry out strict evaluations to make sure every visitor enters a safe environment. Lastly, we understand that a humane approach provides the highest value in treatment. We strive to treat our patients and other visitors with dignity, respect and consideration.
Q: What are your clinical priorities?
A: Our utmost priority is providing opportune attention and efficacy in patient treatment. This is supported by the constant acquisition and modernization of our medical equipment. Often, we will introduce equipment that is the first of its kind in the southeast region of the country. Regarding our clinical priorities, we offer 36 specializations and eight sub-specializations. The most common morbidities at our hospital are pneumonia and conditions that require surgery, be it general, ophthalmological, aesthetic, orthopedic, otolaryngologic or urological.
Q: Where do your patients come from and how are you growing the hospital’s reach?
A: Our patients primarily come from Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo and in lesser numbers from other states or countries, such as the US and Belize. To provide more services and increase access to healthcare, we have opened centers for medical attention and branches for laboratory services at key locations in the city. We also provide discounts for tests and studies and we disseminate information through social media like Facebook and Twitter and through flyers, radio and television.
Q: What mechanisms or incentives are required to stimulate collaboration between the public and private sectors to increase access to healthcare?
A: The challenges for health institutions in Mexico are related to globalization, demographic increases, economic and political changes, the lifestyle of the population and technological developments. To improve the national health system, it is important to strive for equal access to healthcare services for all segments of the population. When the population is healthier, we will see better economic performance and a better home life. The health system reform in Mexico is a continuous process that should be focused on meeting our current needs.
Q: What are your three main objectives for 2019?
A: We want to grow our infrastructure and equipment to respond to market demands. Secondly, we should successfully adopt communication systems like INTRANET and electronic clinical records. Lastly, we want to keep our certifications, more specifically, Distintivo H, ISO 9001:2015 and that of the General Health Council. We also want to renew our Distintivo M certification and obtain a Clean Energy Certificate.
We also want to expand our network of specialists, so they can respond to new diseases and conditions. The clinic is also aiming to be accredited as a teaching hospital for resident doctors and nurses. Regarding our laboratories, we want to be certified in NMX-EC-15189-IMNC-2015 for quality and competence and obtain a certification from the College of American Pathologists. In the future, we also want to offer hydrotherapy and build a heliport at the hospital.