Thirty five years ago today, the Englewood Hospital in Bool district, this city, has gone a long way in terms of health care and wellness services. Built in 1976, the foreign-sounding medical facility indeed got its name from a hospital in Chicago where Dr. Lucy Yap-Evangelista, used to work as a medical practitioner. Dr. Evangelista is one of the owners of the Bohol-based hospital. Not only that. When she opened her own clinic in the Illinois capital, you guessed it right: she did name her own medical clinic as Englewood Clinic. Shuttling to and from Chicago, Dr. Lucy is back to grace the blessing and inauguration of the newly-renovated hospital in tandem with younger sister, also a physician, Dr. Disi Yap-Alba. The inaugural affair was held yesterday. Renovated to the tune of more than 30 million, the spanking Englewood medical center ushered a new era in medical care as it took a new dimension in terms of services and state-of-the art equipment.

In an interview with Dr. Yap-Alba, she said competition with other hospitals was out of the question. She said the renovation effort was part of a commitment for a better health environment giving at the same time the best working condition for its staff. The issue of competition cropped up in the wake of an existing reality in this city where hospitals are sprouting left and right. Just a while back, two modern hospitals rose up in this city to compete in an increasing clientele for healthcare and wellness services, a new buzzword in the industry where big players are cashing in on a business where money is not an option. The two new hospitals—Medical Mission Hospital and Holy Name University Hospital, have imposing buildings added to the city's skyline. An expansion building of the Tagbilaran Community Hospital, all of four floors located just across the old one along M. Paras St., is another testament that the business of treating people is getting brisker every passing day. The expansion building is yet to be inaugurated.

NOT BUSINESS

But for the management of Englewood Hospital, it's not business as usual that motivated its owners to renovate the old building. According to Dr. Yap-Alba, the primary consideration to renovate Englewood was the passion to serve and profit-making was only secondary. At a cost of more than P30 million, the total facelift resulted in the new hospital having six private rooms, four suites, one super suite, four semi-private rooms, six wards with one of them having eight isolation beds. An expanded emergency room was also added to the existing hospital amenities. Before its renovation, the hospital used to have 75 beds but with the construction of suites, it was trimmed down to 65 beds. Still categorized as sec00ondary, the newly-refurbished Englewood is applying for a tertiary classification although its present capability is already on the tertiary level.

DREAM COME TRUE

The plan to build a hospital was a dream come true of the late Yap patriarch Simplicio, Sr. During his lifetime, the irrepressible Yap pioneered the founding of St. James College, the precursor of the famous maritime school, PMI Colleges. It was during his lifetime that he dreamt of building a school and hospital and true to expectations he did it make with flying colors. A certified mechanic, the late Simplicio Yap Sr. also founded the automotive school Bohol Technical Institute which to this day still churning out graduates in auto mechanics, electricians, welders and other allied skills. The hospital dream started in Duero where the patriarch' wife hailed. Married to a Duero lass, Dionisia Luzon, Simplicio became the first mayor of Duero. The Duero hospital which until now is still operational is named Capt. Ruperto Luzon, brother of Dr. Alba's mother and the first Filipino test pilot.

BLESSING

With the blessing of the newly-refurbished medical institution yesterday, Englewood Hospital is now ready to accept clients. Making up the guest list in the blessing rites were German philanthropist Hans Schoof who cut the ceremonial ribbon and assisted by Mrs. Aimee Relampagos, wife of Cong. Rene Relampagos and Mrs. Pureza Veloso-Chatto, wife of Gov. Edgar Chatto. The governor and the first district congressman were also on hand to grace the blessing ceremonies.