Mary Mediatrix Opens Batangas’ First Hospital-Based Urgent Care Center

Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (MMMC) is expanding access to timely and appropriate healthcare in Southern Luzon with the opening of Batangas’ first hospital-based Urgent Care Center, offering patients another option between scheduled clinic consultations and emergency room treatment.

Located in Lipa City, the new facility is designed for patients who require prompt medical attention but are not experiencing life-threatening emergencies. By directing less critical cases to urgent care, MMMC aims to shorten waiting times while allowing its Emergency Room to prioritize patients with severe injuries and critical conditions.

“For many decades, Filipino patients only had two options. Either they go to their primary care physician or to the emergency room,” said Dr. Edna Cuasay, MMMC Assistant Medical Director, Chief of Clinics, and Chief of the Institute of Clinical Neurosciences.

The Urgent Care Center can manage fever and flu-like illnesses, minor infections, mild asthma attacks, allergic reactions, sprains and strains, minor fractures, wounds requiring stitches, and minor burns. Patients with chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing difficulty, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, loss of consciousness, or serious head injuries should proceed directly to the Emergency Room.

All patients entering urgent care undergo clinical triage. Those requiring emergency intervention are immediately transferred to the hospital’s Emergency Room.

Aside from providing faster access, the center is expected to make healthcare more affordable. MMMC President Dondi delos Santos explained that emergency care generally costs more because of the specialized personnel, equipment, consultants, and resources required to handle life-threatening cases. Urgent care can therefore help patients and HMO members better manage healthcare expenses while still receiving appropriate treatment.

Alongside the Urgent Care Center, MMMC also inaugurated its Lifestyle and Wellness Center, strengthening the hospital’s focus on preventive healthcare. Services include executive check-ups, nutrition counseling, physical rehabilitation, and personalized wellness programs.

The two facilities reflect a broader approach that combines prevention, early intervention, and emergency care according to each patient’s needs.

“For 68 years, Mary Mediatrix Medical Center has continuously evolved to meet the changing healthcare needs of our communities,” delos Santos said, adding that the new centers reinforce the hospital’s commitment to accessible, responsive, and patient-centered healthcare guided by its promise of “Alagang May Malasakit.”