STI acquires major stake of Delos Santos Medical

In order to strengthen its hold as one of the largest network of nursing colleges, STI has acquired a significant stake in Delos Santos Medical Center in Manila.

Immediately after the deal, Delos Santos Medical Center will be renamed DLS-STI Medical Center. The partnership combines the strength of a pioneer in healthcare services and the competitive edge of a leading information technology-based education institution.

STI announced that the buy-in is part of STI's initiative to strengthen its Enrollment-to-Employment System (E2E System), which covers every student's needs from the time he enrolls in STI up to the moment he applies for a job. This move also answers the call of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to improve the quality of nursing and health education in the country. DLS-STI Medical Center will not only serve as a training ground for STI nursing students but will also serve as an opportunity for employment when they graduate.

One of the major components of the plan is to improve the facilities and capabilities of the new DLS-STI Medical Center. With fresh capital, a Medical Arts Building and a state-of-the-art operating facility will be added to the existing infrastructures. DLS-STI will also set up satellite clinics around Metro Manila to service the medical needs of its expanding clients needs.

In addition, the bed capacity will be increased to 200, double of the existing facility, to accommodate more patients and complement its plan to improve the hospital's services as the new DLS-STI Medical Center.

"We are investing a significant amount of our resources and expertise to expand DLS STI Medical Center's facilities and improve the hospital's operations," STI President and chief executive officer (CEO) Monico V. Jacob said.

To date, STI has invested more than a P100 million for its nursing program. The investments include hiring of accredited faculty and facilities for its nursing skills laboratories, which were designed to simulate the actual hospital setting in each STI campus offering the nursing program.

Jacob added the DLS-STI Medical Center is considering setting up satellite diagnostic centers in selected areas of the country that would serve as a feeder to the hospital.

Meantime, apart from additional facilities and infrastructure, DLS-STI Medical Center is also to benefit from the IT expertise that STI will render to improve the hospital's business operations.

With an edge in computer education, STI has integrated ICT education in its nursing programs to make nursing professionals even more competitive in the modern environment, particularly in healthcare institutions here and abroad.

STI will provide the hospital with financial, IT, human resources, and marketing support.

Delos Santos revealed that, in return, DLS would provide its expertise in healthcare services to STI's nursing curricula and offer its center as a training ground and even as a workplace for STI nursing students.

With the rationalization of the hospital's operations, improvement of facilities and increase in capacity, Jacob said the DLS-STI Medical Center should improve its revenues by an annual average growth of 30 to 35 percent starting this year.

"This is not the first time, we have partnered with STI. We have earlier partnered with them and brought forth a world-class nursing program through the DLS-STI College of Health Professions." Delos Santos said.

STI acquired a majority share in Delos Santos College in 2002 and transformed it into DLS-STI College of Health Professions.

The DLS-STI Medical Center venture is the first acquisition of STI in a hospital though they have revealed their plans to acquire more in the future to be able to strengthen both its nursing program and E2E System.

"We commit to improve our facilities and systems and to continue to strive to provide world-class healthcare solutions both to patients and medical staff," Jacob said.