MANILA, Philippines?Dr. Audrey Scragg knows how to make the most out of a vacation. The American dental surgeon who has maintained a successful practice in Guam for 15 years recently visited the Philippines. During this well-deserved annual retreat, she also scheduled her regular executive checkup (ECU) at St. Luke?s Medical Center.

Dr. Scragg?s ECU experience at St. Luke?s turned out to be a series of pleasant surprises. Prior to her arrival, St. Luke?s staff had already arranged for her to stay in a residence conveniently located near the medical center. ?This was highly unusual [when] traveling to a foreign country, not something you would expect,? she said.

Impressed

She was impressed by the efficiency, promptness and punctuality she witnessed on the day of her ECU. ?[The staff] was very professional. There were no long waiting periods and everything was done pretty much on time. There were many people waiting for their turn, but I was treated at the appointment time.?

Dr. Scragg describes the medical equipment at St. Luke?s as ?very much state-of-the-art? and the staff as ?very knowledgeable and sensitive.? She was all praises for the way St. Luke?s staff dealt with patients. ?You weren?t just another number, you were someone special. The staff showed genuine interest in a patient?s issues. I felt that each patient received special treatment.?

She also tipped her hat to the doctors at St. Luke?s. ?I?m not certain about the kind and level of training they received but based on the questions they asked, their level of professionalism was as good, if not better, than that of other doctors I have encountered in other countries.?

Dr. Scragg gives two thumbs up to St. Luke?s winning formula of focusing on patient satisfaction and high standards of care. ?I will definitely return to St. Luke?s. I?m that impressed.?

St. Luke?s Medical Center offers a broad range of executive checkup packages and wellness programs designed to provide maximum patient convenience and meet unique personal requirements. You may choose a program that establishes a baseline measure of your overall health or pick one that will focus only on a particular health issue (or issues) you are most concerned about. If necessary, programs can be backed up by supplementary investigations. You may choose an outpatient executive checkup package or one that lets you enjoy a comfortable one- or two-night stay at St. Luke?s.

Preventive healthcare tips

With the spiraling cost of living in the country, preventing sickness is a lot more sensible and economical than treating it. Here are some preventive healthcare tips for you and your family:

? Schedule regular health checkups at least once or twice a year. These dates should be sacred days in your calendar.

? Choose a one-stop health facility staffed by doctors who can profile your family health status and history. Your doctor can customize a comprehensive ECU program to suit your family?s healthcare needs as a whole and not on a piecemeal basis.

? Discuss your checkup results with your doctor who will draw up a targeted healthcare regimen for you and your family.

For feedback, please e-mail the Healthcare Technology and Outcomes Information Bureau at inquire@htoib.com.