Cathy Stovell, Author at Bermuda Hospitals Board

About Cathy Stovell

BHB Primary Stroke Centre celebrates three-year anniversary

Sunday 17 July 2022: Today is the third anniversary of the launch of Bermuda Hospitals Board’s (BHB) Primary Stroke Centre. In April, the Stroke Centre received confirmation from Accreditation Canada that it had achieved distinction certification for its acute stroke and rehabilitation services – Accreditation Canada’s highest award for stroke centres. This certification means that BHB has implemented the protocols to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke, as well as evaluation, prevention and rehabilitation.

The full report is being released to the public today and can be found on bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com.

BHB provides its Primary Stroke Centre services in a clinical affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International. The collaboration has been instrumental in developing novel services to better manage stroke care in Bermuda. This includes the tele stroke service, where a neurologist is involved via phone and the internet from the first indication on arrival at the hospital that the person is experiencing a stroke.

“Every second is critical in the case of a stroke,” said BHB consultant neurologist Dr Kehinde Kolapo. “That we are able to quickly identify stroke allows us to administer IV thrombolysis tPA (IV tPA), a clot-busting drug which greatly improves patient outcomes.”

Local tele stroke service began in June 2020. In December 2020, Johns Hopkins Medicine International neurologists began working with BHB. This innovative way of managing stroke patients helps us collaborate in real time to care for Bermudian patients, despite being over 800 miles apart,” said Dr Victor Urrutia, director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center.

In 2021, BHB had its first transoceanic patient transferred from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) to a comprehensive stroke centre in the US for removal of a clot in a large blood vessel. The procedure (mechanical thrombectomy) is not available in Bermuda and, because patients must be transferred very quickly, referral overseas is difficult.

“Our efforts to improve stroke care at BHB are ongoing,” said BHB Chief of Staff Wesley Miller. “The introduction of BHB’s Patient Electronic and Administrative Records Log – PEARL – later this year is an example of that. It will create efficiencies that will help ensure we provide the best care and safety for our stroke patients.”

File photo of the 2019 launch of the Bermuda Hospitals Board Primary Stroke Centre. Pictured centre are Dr Victor Urrutia, director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Dr Francene Gayle, then director of BHB’s Primary Stroke Centre.

17 July 2022 Home Page, News

Public Advisory: Repairs to Corporation of Hamilton sewage line may cause foul odours inside KEMH

Friday 24 June 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that repairs to the Corporation of Hamilton sewage pipe on Point Finger Road will be very near the Emergency Department and air intake units for the hospital building. Please note that as a result you may experience adverse odours not only outside the hospital but also inside.

Bermuda Hospitals Board apologises for this unfortunate circumstance. The Corporation of Hamilton is working assiduously to rectify the situation.

24 June 2022 Home Page, News

Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute celebrates Fête of Exceptionalities

Saturday 4 June 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) today celebrated the first anniversary of the formation of its Community and Intellectual Disability Team (CIDT) with a Fête of Exceptionalities.

The community event saw people with intellectual disabilities, their friends and family, the CIDT, and MWI senior leaders join for a day of fun activities at the Warwick Parish Council Field.

“The CIDT works to provide appropriate and client-centred services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with comorbid and co-occurring health needs living in Bermuda,” said Clinical Manager of CIDT Christopher Cunningham.

“The success of the first year of this department has brought about necessary referrals for day programmes, client moves to residential group homes for respite or permanent stays, employment opportunities and weekly therapy sessions focused on various topics to support the daily lives of clients,” said Preston Swan, BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer and VP Clinical Operations (MWI).

“Additionally, the team has been able to assist in emergency cases for other individuals needing substantial support, all while developing ties with multiple agencies on the island,” he added.

“The main objectives of our Fête of Exceptionalities are to provide our clients the opportunity to celebrate themselves in a public setting and engage in meaningful social engagement with their peers and the wider community,” said Morrisa Rogers, BHB Clinical Director of Intellectual Disabilities. “Attendees had the opportunity to seek information from our resource tent about the CIDT and other organisations that provide services to this community.”

It was free and featured lots of soca music, games, popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy, and the gombeys were a big hit.

“We hope the event provided insight for future community events on how to make inclusion possible for those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities,” said Mr Cunningham. “Inclusion is necessary and important, especially if we want to continue reducing the stigmas around mental health and intellectual disability.”

“We would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor who share in the success of today’s event,” said Ronnelle James, Clinical Assistant of the CIDT. “They are: Special Olympics, K. Margaret Carter Centre, New Dimensions Day Programmes, John Barritt & Sons Ltd, The Hiles Family (Kris and Christianna), The Client Empowerment Council and Tomorrow’s Voices. We also thank Warwick Parish Council and The Royal Bermuda Regiment.”

4 June 2022 Home Page, News

Public Advisory: Traffic diversions at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Acute Care Wing on Tuesday 26 April 2022

Monday 25 April 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that there will be traffic diversions for those driving to the front of the Acute Care Wing on Tuesday 26 April 2022.

Cleaning of the outside of the hospital building necessitates use of a lift that will block the road at the main entrance.

Pedestrians and vehicular traffic will be redirected where necessary. For your safety and the safety of others, please use caution and adhere to the barriers, signage and directions given by staff at the scene.

Bermuda Hospitals Board apologises to the public for any inconvenience caused by the disruption.

25 April 2022 Home Page, News

BHB Primary Stroke Centre receives Distinction Award from Accreditation Canada

Monday 11 April 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) today announces that its Primary Stroke Centre, part of a clinical affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI), has received Stroke Distinction Award from Accreditation Canada for its Acute Stroke Services and its Inpatient Rehabilitation Services standards.

A letter from Accreditation Canada announcing the news reads: “Achieving Distinction indicates that your organization has demonstrated national leadership in the provision of high-quality stroke care. We applaud your success and urge you to celebrate this achievement.”

Accreditation Canada surveyors interviewed Bermuda Hospitals Board staff, stroke patients, their families and organisations BHB partner with from 28 February – 3 March 2022.

“We are delighted to receive distinction certification from Accreditation Canada for our Primary Stroke Centre,” said BHB CEO and President Dr Michael Richmond. “This is outstanding as our centre opened less than four years ago. It reflects the world-class expertise of our staff who achieved this while navigating the unique and challenging stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dr Richmond continued: “Stroke distinction certification is the highest commendation a Stroke Centre can receive in the Accreditation Canada system and aligns with BHB’s vision to pursue excellence through improvement, to make Bermuda proud.”

The final report reads in part: “Overall the Stroke Distinction surveyors identified the following areas of success within the organization’s stroke services:

Leadership and Organization support
Knowledgeable and committed staff
Collaboration with Johns Hopkins [Medicine] International
Alignment of the Integrated Stroke program plan with the Strategic Plan
Community Partnerships
Communication and promotion of the stroke program”

BHB Medical Stroke Director Dr Francene Gayle said: “The COVID-19 pandemic definitely presented us with unexpected challenges but we forged ahead to achieve, and in some cases, surpass, our targeted goals. We are especially thrilled to have developed novel stroke systems of care which can become models for other community hospitals around the world.”

“It has been our pleasure to collaborate with BHB in developing the Stroke Centre. We are proud of this collaboration and BHB’s accomplishments as a Primary Stroke Centre with distinction, “ said Victor C Urrutia, MD, director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center and director of The Johns Hopkins Global Center for Organised Stroke Care. “This truly demonstrates BHB’s commitment to a higher standard of clinical service for stroke care. Their cohesive team and consistent approaches are now certified, to the benefit of patients across the island.”

Stroke Centre History

In 2018 BHB recognising that stroke had become an epidemic on the island, took steps to address the problem. In July 2019, BHB launched its Primary Stroke Centre, part of a clinical affiliation with JHMI. Since that time, stroke patient outcomes have significantly improved. A more clearly defined process in managing stroke patients together with a robust national campaign highlighting the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of attending the hospital immediately, have led to the success.

At our peak, 14 percent of those who experienced a stroke were able to receive a clot-busting drug that increased their chances of fully recovering. (Not all stroke patients are eligible to receive the drug.)

Dr Gayle said: “This figure is impressive and is almost double the 7% average of primary stroke centres in the US.”

BHB’s Primary Stroke Centre has also made history with its first trans-oceanic mechanical thrombectomy case. In this instance, a local patient with a major blockage in a major artery was able to be diagnosed and air-ambulanced to The Johns Hopkins Hospital within 17 hours. The patient received the lifesaving thrombectomy surgery, and, is likely the first in the world to have experienced the trans-oceanic service.

Pictured above: BHB Stroke Centre Working Group with Accreditation Canada lead surveyor Dr Ali Hojjati (middle front) – March 2022

11 April 2022 Home Page, News

What is a biomedical technologist

February 2022: When students think about a career in healthcare, nursing and medicine may first come to mind, but there is a plethora of other fields that are vital to hospitals all over the world. Bio-Medical/Clinical Engineering is one such area. It is not on the radar of many students but is well worth considering if you are interested in electronics, computing, mechanics, engineering and/or biology.

Delbert Doars is the newest member of the biomedical team at Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB). He is a biomed technologist who became interested following a job shadowing opportunity in the department when he was working in the Purchasing and Materials Management department of the organisation.

To read the full article in Your Future magazine click here and go to page 29.

15 February 2022 Media

Cooking to heal

February 2022: If you love cooking perhaps you are considering pursuing a career as a chef, but have you ever contemplated how your work could help heal people? Food is one of the most important ways we nourish our bodies so that they perform optimally for us – it’s quite literally the fuel for life.

Tamiyah Durrant is one the youngest additions to the Food Services team at Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) and she says she finds her work fulfilling.

“I have grown up in a family where we love cooking,” she says. “I’ve binge-watched Food Network for most of my life. At Berkeley I received my formal introduction to culinary arts in my Family Studies class. It was here that I realised a profession is this field is the route I wanted to take so I applied for the Culinary Arts programme at Bermuda College, and was accepted.”

To read the full article in Your Future magazine February 2022 click here and go to page 28.

15 February 2022 Media

BHB CT scan service has resumed

Thursday 3 February 2022: CT scan service at Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) resumed on Monday 31 January. BHB worked with the Brown-Darrell Clinic to deliver the service while repairs were carried out on its two machines last week.

“We thank Brown-Darrell Clinic for their assistance from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 January,” said BHB VP Clinical Operations, Anthony Fitzgerald. “During those 4 days they did CT scans on 17 of our urgent Emergency Department patients.”

-ends-

3 February 2022 Home Page, News

Extended – week day evening hours only at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre

Wednesday 2 February 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces that the change in hours at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will continue to the end of February at which time it will be re-assessed.

The UCC is currently open from 6pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am -9pm on Saturday and Sunday. The move to evening hours only on weekdays, was to assist with ensuring adequate staffing levels are available in the Emergency Department at KEMH.

Dr Chikezie Dean Okereke, Chief of Emergency, comments: “The temporary change in the weekday hours implemented last month has helped. As we remain under the same pressures the decision was made to extend the current hours until the end of this month.”

Judy Richardson, Chief of Nursing, comments: “ The reduced UCC hours allow us to redeploy a full time nurse back to the ED which assists in delivering care where the most unwell people are in need.”

-ends-

2 February 2022 Home Page, News

BHB COVID-19 Remembrance Tree

Thursday 9 December 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) this season has dedicated its Christmas tree to remember those we have lost to COVID-19.

“The tree has pride of place in the main lobby of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH),” said BHB CEO Michael Richmond. “This year we felt it was fitting for our tree to help heal and comfort our staff who have lost loved ones and patients, and the family and friends of the 106 persons who Bermuda has lost to the disease.”

Interested members of the public can request a pre-cut ornament from BHB and decorate it in memory of a family member or loved one who they lost to the disease. When completed, decorated ornaments should be returned to KEMH to be hung on the COVID-19 Remembrance Tree.

“Many in our community are still grieving the loss of loved ones to this disease,” said BHB Acting Chief of Psychiatry Anna Neilson-Williams. “Taking time to remember the person and simple acts such as writing a note are mechanisms that can help people heal emotionally.

“Our staff are human and they too have felt the toll of loss some in their families and many as they cared for their patients. Due to necessary visiting restrictions, in several instances they, and not the next of kin, were at the patient bedside until the end. Oftentimes even more difficult for our staff was having to console the next of kin who could not be present. We also recognise the large number of staff from overseas, who have worked tirelessly over the pandemic, many of whom have also suffered losses, and this complex cumulative aspect can take its toll.”

BHB has staff from well over 50 different countries. India is one of those, which was hit particularly hard by the virus. Some of our staff lost family in that wave. The COVID-19 Remembrance Tree is a way they can also find some solace.

The tree will have 106 silver baubles in honour of each life lost to COVID-19 in Bermuda, and 54 gold baubles representing all the countries BHB staff are from. Each gold ornament symbolises the friends and family our staff members lost to COVID-19 in their home countries.

Due to privacy laws and patient confidentiality, next of kin of those who passed due to COVID-19 have not been contacted directly by BHB to submit an ornament. We encourage everyone who learns about the COVID-19 Remembrance Tree to share the news widely.

If you want to collect an ornament, please contact cathy.stovell@bhb.bm for details on when they will be available. Unfortunately, in order to comply with privacy laws, no names or photos will be allowed in the ornament decorations.

9 December 2021 Home Page, News