Care That Connects: How UP-PGH’s Family Health Unit Puts Its Patients and Their Families First
In a world where healthcare can often feel impersonal, the Family Health Unit at UP-PGH stands out by prioritizing what truly matters—the patients and their families.
In the bustling streets of Manila, within the old, storied halls of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), a subtle yet significant shift in healthcare is underway—a change that doesn’t depend on cutting-edge machines or hefty budgets. At the Family Health Unit (FHU) of the UP-PGH Department of Family and Community Medicine, patients are viewed as more than mere charts and lab results. They are parents, children, breadwinners, caregivers—members of a web of relationships that shape the health and well-being of both the family unit and the community as a whole.
This perspective is precisely what the FHU is designed to support—by providing patients with a comprehensive patient-centered, family-focused, and community-oriented care. Through this approach, FHU aims to promote the health and wellness of Filipino families in every health institution across the country.
More Than Just a Clinic
At first glance, the FHU appears to be your typical outpatient clinic. But once you step inside, a hypothetical scenario might start with a check-up for a mother’s hypertension and then evolve into a discussion of her children’s nutrition, her husband’s work stress, the family’s access to clean water, and so on. Here, no topic is excluded—because everything—is connected to health and wellness.
While most traditional clinics focus on individual treatments, the FHU goes deeper and adopts a more holistic approach. It enrolls entire families, allowing physicians to care for patients in the context of their households, communities, and lived experiences. “To ensure our consultants and trainees effectively utilize the patient-centered, family-focused, community-oriented framework, we developed a comprehensive PFC [Patient and Family Centered] matrix for each family,” says FHU Coordinator Dr. Anna Guia O. Limpoco.
The PFC matrix helps document care and connect families to suitable levels of the health system, ensuring a seamless experience for everyone involved. “Acknowledging the impact of illness on family dynamics and communication has become a cornerstone of our approach, ensuring that each family member’s role in patient management is recognized and valued.” Dr. Limpoco elaborates, “By viewing family members as allies in promoting optimal health, we have fostered a supportive environment that enhances patient outcomes.”
Studies have found that families actively involved in managing the care of their loved ones are statistically associated with better patient outcomes. “Families have expressed high satisfaction levels due to shared decision-making and collaborative care, reinforcing the role of family physicians as advocates of holistic, biopsychosocial care,” shares Dr. Limpoco.
Recognizing the interconnected nature of health issues affecting families and communities, FHU collaborates with various departments and colleges from PGH and UP Manila to meet the specific needs of their patients. “Our patient-centered, family-focused approach has become integral to our services, especially within multidisciplinary care teams addressing complex cases such as orthogeriatric fragility care, transition care for youth with developmental disabilities, and management of inherited metabolic disorders and chronic conditions like HIV and osteoarthritis,” explains Dr. Limpoco.
Establishing a direct referral pathway from specialists to primary care or family physicians underscores FHU’s dedication to ensuring continuity of care. Studies indicate that this approach improves the quality of care across all levels and significantly boosts the overall patient experience.
Placing Patients and Their Families at the Heart of Public Service
By exemplifying dangal and husay in the development and implementation of their program, the “Patient-Centered, Family-Focused, and Community-Oriented Care for Families Enrolled at the Family Health Unit” received the Gawad Pangulo Award for Excellence in Public Service during its third iteration in 2019.
“After receiving the prestigious Gawad Pangulo Award, our family health unit at the Department of Family and Community Medicine experienced a remarkable transformation,” Dr. Limpoco shares with enthusiasm. “The recognition propelled us to enhance our enrollment efforts, and by 2025, we proudly serve 311 families, each with unique needs for chronic care, counseling, wellness, and multidisciplinary support.”
For Dr. Limpoco, receiving the Gawad Pangulo award was more than just a validation: “This recognition has not only validated our commitment to family involvement but has also sparked a greater appreciation among families enrolled in our programs. Other services recognize our role in multidisciplinary care [in relation] to family interventions, hence referrals have increased.”
With rising public awareness and an influx of program referrals, more patients and their families signed up, making the service more accessible and ensuring it was fully utilized. “This accolade has further fueled our passion for advocating a patient-centered, family-focused, and community-oriented approach to care, placing patients and their families at the heart of everything we do,” Dr. Limpoco adds.
The award served as a transformative catalyst for FHU, elevating its service, enhancing family interventions, and empowering the next generation of doctors with outstanding training opportunities. “[These changes] opened doors for our residents to cultivate essential skills and expertise, empowering them to become proficient primary care providers for the families under our care,” Dr. Limpoco contemplates. “This journey has enriched their multifaceted roles—shaping them into healthcare providers, coordinators, navigators, researchers, leaders, and educators.” Through the seamless integration of the PFC framework into their practice, FHU has built an environment where the training and application of the biopsychosocial approach in healthcare thrived.
Dr. Limpoco highlights that one of FHU’s most valuable achievements has been the sense of having “ignited a profound awareness among families that navigating illness is indeed a collective journey.” This realization has empowered families to come together, support one another, and seek help from healthcare providers and support networks, reinforcing the idea that they are not alone in their struggles. By observing family dynamics and encouraging open communication and collaboration, FHU has effectively transformed how families approach illness, helping them build a more resilient, informed support system.
One manifestation of this achievement is the annual Family Day celebration, a much-anticipated event that brings enrolled families and their family physicians together in a joyful, relaxed setting. “This joyous occasion fosters a sense of community, support, and belonging among families and healthcare providers, creating lasting bonds that enhance the overall healthcare experience,” Dr. Limpoco adds.
A Call to Serve with Humility
In reflecting on her work with FHU, Dr. Limpoco expresses her heartfelt motivation for pursuing service in the field of public health: “I am truly honored to receive this [Gawad Pangulo] award and would like to share a sentiment that resonated deeply with me during last Sunday’s homily: ‘Fan the flame that God has put in you; serve with humility.’” She continues, “This powerful message encapsulates the essence of my journey in public service. It reminds us that our greatest purpose lies in serving our most vital stakeholders—patients and families.”
Those in public service silently face many challenges and make humble sacrifices. Their genuine motivation stems not from the desire for acknowledgment but from the profound sense that their work makes a meaningful difference in the world.
Public service extends beyond simply seeking personal and professional accomplishments. It is rooted in compassion and humility, where success is measured by the positive influence we have on others.
Like many who dedicate themselves to public service, Dr. Limpoco views success not as a fixed endpoint but as a continuous journey of growth and empowerment. She shares, “This experience has taught me that passion and commitment are not just about personal achievements but are fundamentally about uplifting others and making a meaningful impact in their lives.”
Serving with humility isn’t merely a saying; it represents a commitment to showing up with integrity and grace, particularly in moments when no one is watching.
Sharing stories like these serves as a poignant reminder that genuine public service is measured by the lives we impact, rather than the titles we hold or the accolades we receive.
And sometimes, all it takes to forge ahead is a gentle nudge of encouragement to fan the flame and help illuminate the path for others.
The Padayon UP Public Service Office has officially opened the nominations for the Gawad Pangulo sa Natatanging Serbisyo Publiko.
The Gawad Pangulo sa Natatanging Serbisyo Publiko aims to effect meaningful change across the UP System by identifying, supporting, and scaling impactful public service programs that deliver tangible benefits to communities and demonstrate the University’s role as a premier public service university.
Public service initiatives implemented by UP units, personnel, and student organizations from 01 January 2022 to 30 June 2025 may be nominated. Public service initiatives shall have already made significant contributions or impacts within the said period.
The awarding will be in June 2026 during the Linggo ng Unibersidad.
View the full mechanics on our website: https://publicservice.up.edu.ph/gawad-pangulo-sa…/
Cover design: Chu Quinto
Edited by AVP Mark Lester del Mundo Chico
Photos from Dr. Anna Guia O. Limpoco, UP-PGH