fp Turks and Caicos

The new hospital with its two satellites on Provo and Grand Turk have been up and running for almost two months, and according to hospital representatives, it has been an “interesting and busy time.”

The two facilities averaged more than 100 patients a day, with a total of 5,628 patients being cared for from its opening day through the end of May. Interhealth (TCI) CEO Roger Cheesman says the vast majority have been those covered by the National Health Insurance Program.

With so many individuals coming through the doors, staff and management have encountered many obstacles and some criticism from patients.

One of the busiest areas is the imagery department. Cheesman says they have used the CT and MR extensively for diagnosis, saving many trips overseas and providing excellent diagnostics for the local team as well as those receiving the medical referrals overseas.

“We put it onto a DVD, and it goes off with the patient to the overseas centre, and they can look at it on their computer,” he explained.

The hospital has already had several visiting consultants in neurology and renal medicine, and expect upcoming visits from an opthamologist and ENT as well as a reconstructive plastic surgeon.

One area where planned consultation has not been required is in cardiology. With two individuals on staff having significant background and expertise in cardiology, that area has been well-covered locally, according to Cheesman.

“Between the pair of them, they are providing a lot of cardiology work-ups and will be working with some additional equipment we have recently purchased,” he said.

The hospital is about to install new cardiology equipment which will help extend and improve in the area of cardiology. Dr. Robyn Barnes says the majority of patients being seen are dealing with chronic conditions such as hypertension, so this new equipment will help to better treat and care for many local patients.

A significant amount of training has also been a part of the daily routine at the hospital. Chief of Clinical Services Kathleen Bree says there was training before the hospital opened, but on a limited basis especially for those who worked at the previous on-island facilities until the day the hospital opened.
“The training department has been instrumental in developing an in-service program,” she said. “Highlighting where there are gaps, but also areas which require regular updating.” She says this will not only cover clinical staff, but also support and facilities staff.

In addition there are mandatory trainings which are ongoing, including annual performance reviews and continued professional development or training plans that fit the needs of each staff members.

“There is a lot of work from the training manager and nurse manager and heads of departments looking at what needs to be done,” she added. “It is currently about identifying where the needs are, which sometimes takes a bit of time to get the full grasp of what is required.”

All of this is only improving on the already highly skilled and qualified staff Hospital managers say. All staff which deal directly with patients must pass a series of validations. Cheesman explained that as a Canadian organization, Interhealth is required to prove to the Canadian accreditation board that they have validated qualifications and experience of every employee hired.

“Clinical staff must have appropriate qualifications,” he said. “It has to be documented. Also senior clinical staff have to go through credentialing with a separate committee.”

In addition to Interhealth/Canadian validation standards, practitioners are also required to carry a local practitioner’s license. For this process, originals of all documents, references, degrees, certificate of good standing from last employer and qualifications are required to pass the test.

All staff who have clinical qualifications gained them somewhere through experience in a modern health care system before they came to the TCI, according to Cheesman.

He acknowledges it has been a tough time, and they have encountered challenges. But he says, “There are many, many people who have benefited enormously from the skills of our teams, and it is good to know we are providing excellent service.”

One of the biggest challenges has been time, hospital management said. One solution is underway to put more staff into the areas which are most frequently visited, namely general practice and the emergency room.

Cheesman also stresses that when people do have concerns about their treatment within the hospital, they should feel free to share that with hospital staff.

“We take feedback very, very seriously,” Cheesman said. “Don’t go away unhappy. If you have an issue, you should ask to speak to one of the managers, and they can help solve the issue.”

Comment cards are also available at both locations, and they are about to roll out a patient satisfaction survey.

Important numbers

Cheshire Hall 649-941-2800
Cockburn Town 649-941-2900
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Unless it is an emergency ou must call to make an appointment with a general practitioner.

For an urgent problem go directly to the ER.

Same day appointments can be made for more urgent cases.

Patients are seen in order of priority and not necessarily by order of arrival.

No appointments can be made directly with a specialist.

Showing up on-time for appointments is vital.
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Care that is provided by the Ministry of Health inside the hospital facilities:

• Well-baby clinic, such as immunizations
• Prenatal care before 36 weeks
• Dentistry
• Family Practice
• Ambulance services