Building Trust to Save Lives in a Metro Manila Public-Private Network of Care: A Descriptive Case Study of Quirino Recognized Partners in Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract

ABSTRACT At an overcrowded government multi-specialty hospital serving the most densely populated area of Metro Manila, inward referrals of women in a moribund state and high volumes of low-risk maternity cases added to significant overcrowding and quality challenges in the maternity wards, resulting in high rates of maternal and neonatal death and near-miss. This case study of the public-private Network of Care, Quirino Recognized Partners (QRP), describes a series of pragmatic steps taken to build and maintain the network, particularly: building trust through agreements with private and public birth centers within a ten-kilometer radius, rolling out antenatal use of a clinical and socio-economic risk scoring tool, reaching out to potential clients, and establishing clear communication channels and protocols for care. These actions, consistent with the schematic of an effective Network of Care, helped decongest the hospital, build rapport and teamwork among health providers, and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes throughout the network. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to explore how QRP was established to solve for particular contextual problems, especially congestion and poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes, with express attention to how actions taken related to the domains of Networks of Care. Data collected through semi-structured interviews with relevant health care and other workers, institutional documents, observations, and field notes were interpreted through the domains of Networks of Care and reported through rich description.