The Clinical Research Division (CRD) is the division primarily in charge of patient care. It is composed of 9 departments (Dermatology, Dietary, Epidemiology and Biostatisics, Health Information Management, Medical, Nursing, Pharmacy, Diagnostic Imaging and Medical Social Work) and the Clinical Research Unit. It provides multi-disciplinary medical care to patients with infectious and tropical diseases at the wards, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Emergency Room (ER) and the various specialty out-patient clinics (Dermatology, Animal bite, HIV, TB-DOTS, and General infectious disease).

Research is one of the main responsibilities of the CRD. Epidemiologic studies, clinical trials, social science research, case series, and other types of researches are conducted in collaboration with the different reference laboratories and other institutions. In particular, clinical researches are conducted by trained and seasoned researchers following the principles of Good Clinical Practice.

CRD also provides training for health professionals through its fellowship program for infectious diseases, dermatology residency training program, rotating residency training program, affiliation program for nurses and pharmacists, and short courses on Intravenous therapy (IVT), Good clinical Practice, Research methodology, protocol/manuscript writing, HIV AIDS Core Team (HACT) training, animal bite training, basic life support/venipuncture for radiologic technologist, and post graduate courses for infectious, tropical and dermatological diseases.

The CRD staff are guided by the core values of discipline, integrity, compassion, excellence, innovation and team work.

Medical Department

The Medical Department is a major department under the Clinical Research Division involved in research, training, and service. The department is composed of Infectious Disease Specialists, Medical Officers and Researchers holding permanent, part-time or visiting positions in RITM. Majority of the staff belong to one or more of RITM’s research groups such as the Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), Acquired Immune Disease Syndrome (AIDS), Rabies, Tuberculosis (TB), Dengue, Schistosomiasis, Malaria, Hepatitis and the Medical Research Group. Investigator-initiated research and clinical trials constitute a large component of the department’s research undertaking. Fellows also conduct retrospective or prospective clinical research under the supervision of the Medical Department consultants.

The RITM, through the Medical Department, provides training in Infectious and Tropical Diseases to rotating residents and fellows coming from the different hospitals nationwide. In May 2011, the Medical Department started a fellowship training program in Adult Infectious Diseases fully accredited by the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The program has since produced 11 young and promising graduates now practicing in various areas in the country. The other training programs offered by the department include a biennial Post Graduate Course in Infectious and Tropical Diseases, HIV/AIDS Training Courses, Snakebite Management Training and observership in Infectious and Tropical Diseases for foreign medical students or residents. The department also conducts regular Rabies and Animal Bite Preventive and Management Trainings throughout the year in collaboration with the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program.

The third component of the Medical Department’s activity is providing medical services to patients with infectious and tropical disease from all areas within the Philippines. Medical services are offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The out-patient department is composed of general infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, TB Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) course clinic, and animal bite clinics. On the other hand, the in-patient department is divided into pediatric and adult infectious disease services. The Medical Department is supported by other departments in both the Clinical Research Division and the Laboratory Research Division and the different committees of the Institution in the provision of these services.

Dermatology

The Dermatology Department is committed to offer a well-balanced training program for residents and expects to produce strong-willed, resolute and devoted leaders among consultant staff and residents. The department is tasked to deliver sound dermatological health care to patients through training, service and research and to provide opportunities for academic and professional advancement.

The department also has various patient support groups namely: Hansen’s Disease, Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis and Bullous Disease clubs.

Nursing Department

The Nursing Department is the primary provider of patient care services in the different areas: Ward, ICU, ER, Out Patient Department (OPD), and its specialty clinics. The department ensures capabilities of staff in handling emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Aside from patient care, the department conducts and facilitates post graduate training course in infectious and tropical diseases, gives health teachings to patients and their companions, participates in research activities, trains student nurses and works together with other departments in order to provide dedicated and compassionate quality health services.

Diagnostic Imaging Department

The Diagnostic Imaging Department (DID) is one of the front line service providers of the hospital. It is a diagnostic unit for x-rays and general ultrasound examinations. Comprehensive quality control and radiation protection program through the Department of Health-Bureau of Health Devices and Technology is followed when providing patient service.

Radiologic examinations are performed by a registered Radiologic Technologist and images are interpreted by a Radiologist. Ultrasound examinations performed and scanned by trained Radiologic Technologist under the guidance of the Radiologist/Sonologist.

DID also conducts training on basic life support and venipuncture for radiologic technologist.

Pharmacy Department

The Pharmacy Department works collaboratively with the Administrative, Medical and Nursing staff, as well as allied health professionals to assure optimal patient-centered pharmaceutical care and to implement effective and efficient pharmacy operations and management in accordance with ethical, professional practices and legal requirements.

With dispensing as its main function, it specializes in ensuring the availability and rational use of safe, good quality, and cost-effective drugs and medicines by establishing a hospital formulary based on the Philippine National Formulary (PNF) in collaboration with the Medical staff through the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee. The Department’s Clinical Pharmacy Service utilizes the Unit Dose Drug Distribution System (UDDDS) in providing the 24-hour dose for In-patients. Pharmacists are responsible for coordinating with the Medical and Nursing staff in the monitoring and reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Moreover, pharmacists play an active role in promoting optimum standards for the appropriate use of drugs and medicines, particularly of antimicrobials, with the implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) program of the Department of Health (DOH). Pharmacists’ participation in researches relevant to pharmacy practice and involvement in the development and conduct of a Quality Assurance Program further strengthens the Pharmacy Department’s effort towards achieving excellence in providing pharmaceutical care.

Health Information Management Department

The Health Information Management Department (HIMD) is responsible for facilitating patient care through the use of data contained in the health record, either individually or collectively. The general function of HIMD is to provide an organized system of measuring quality patient care and to ensure that sufficient data is written in sequence of events to justify the diagnosis, warrant the treatment and end results. The department is tasked to process, analyze, maintain and safe keep all health records created/maintained in the healthcare facility in the course of treatment and its supervisors are mandated to implement facility wide coordination and linkage. The department plays a key role in the generation of healthcare statistics for evidence-based medical care and management practices.

The HIMD provides effective and efficient services to clients & ensures creation and maintenance of quality health records. It strives to improve its accessibility, encourages greater utilization of healthcare facility statistics & participates in research and studies which the members of the medical & allied staff and other authorized researchers are engaged in.

Dietary Department

The Dietary Department is part of the basic support staff and personnel of the hospital. The department is responsible for providing the best possible food service for patients, rotators, fellows, dermatology residents, hospital staff and guests of the institute. Alongside with this responsibility, the Dietary also maintains an active nutrition clinic not only for in-patients and RITM employees, but also for walk-in patients and referrals for diet counseling. The Department advocates and promotes good nutrition and healthy lifestyle through the regular conduct of nutrition education classes and research.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (DEBS) is an institutional core facility. The department is composed of technical staff with expertise in the fields of qualitative and quantitative research, project management, data management, research ethics, epidemiology, and biostatistics. It provides technical and management support to the institute’s researchers by: 1) offering in-house training on data management and analysis, and other relevant training; 2) managing the RITM library by keeping and providing updated journals to library users; 3) supervising and monitoring data collection for clinical and community-based researches; 4) providing support in the management and coordination of researches; 5) serving as lecturers and mentors in the conduct of trainings on Good Clinical Practice, Grant Proposal and Protocol Writing, and Scientific Manuscript Writing; and 6) providing technical expertise in the development of research protocols, scientific manuscripts and technical reports.

Medical Social Work Department

The Medical Social Work Department (MSWD) provides comprehensive professional social work services which are responsive to the psychosocial needs of the patients and their families who are afflicted with infections. The staff of the department motivates the patients and their families to participate in their problem-solving, and in the process, to come up with their own specific health plan to combat the spread of infection, improve their lives and be a part of the society towards nation building. The staff are also responsible for classifying and identifying patients as mandated by Republic Act 747 (an Act to regulate fee in government hospitals and charity clinics), and by the current rules and regulations under Administrative Order 31 series July 2015 (Implementing Guidelines on Classification of Patients and on Availment of Medical Social Service in Government Hospitals). The MSWD coordinates with funding sources such as DSWD, PCSO, DOH, etc in providing patient assistance. The assessment and evaluation programs are continual, comprehensive, and utilized in developing interventions and treatment strategies.

Clinical Research Unit

The Clinical Research Unit (CRU), a special Unit under the CRD, is the primary research unit of the division. It is tasked to develop guidelines and procedures for the proper implementation and conduct of clinical research and to monitor their progress and outcome. It provides technical support to researchers in terms of data management, statistical analysis, study start up and is in charge of managing the clinical trial rooms. It also participates in the conduct of research fora and trainings on research.