Acute Care Wing, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (Photo by Akil Simmons).
From The Royal Gazette: The Bermuda Hospitals Board has invested in a new pilot programme aimed at helping address chronic diseases.
According to a spokeswoman, the Patient-Centred Medical Home programme offers outpatient referral services for individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes who are not seeing a GP and who are uninsured or underinsured.
1 February 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces that Ms Patrice Dill is leaving BHB after 40 years’ service.
Ms Dill is leaving as the position she previously held of Chief Operating Officer (Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute – MWI) has now been phased out. This is the final part of the senior management team restructure that was announced two years ago. At that time, three positions were made redundant immediately (Chief Information Officer, Chief of HR and Vice President, Nursing) and it was announced that the COO (MWI) position would be made redundant in 2017.
Mrs Venetta Symonds, CEO, comments: “While the streamlining of senior management to better support the delivery of the BHB strategy was announced two years ago, it is always momentous when someone who has had such an impact on a service over many years leaves. All of us who have worked with Ms Dill over the years will miss her. She has been the driving force within MWI for so long and achieved so much on behalf of vulnerable groups who use services in the Mental Health, Child & Adolescent, Substance Abuse and Learning Disability areas.”
Ms Dill’s dedication to MWI commenced when she was a student. After returning from schooling in the UK, Ms Dill worked as a Registered Mental Health Nurse. She subsequently moved through progressive promotions through to her appointment to the Chief Operations Officer (MWI) post in 1998. In this role, she oversaw the name change of St Brendan’s to the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute in 2005 to try and reduce the stigma attached to services there, and the establishment of a new Mental Health Plan in 2010. In line with the plan, and despite severe pressure on budgets, she has led the reshaping of services into a recovery model, which empowers service users to be involved in their care and seeks to strengthen support of people in the community to better maintain their mental wellness and avoid hospitalisations.
Mrs Symonds ends: “We wish Ms Dill the best in her future endeavours. Her passion for MWI services has been instrumental in shaping them. BHB and Bermuda will be forever grateful for all she has given to develop this foundation.”
As was previously announced, there will now be one COO for BHB, Mr Scott Pearman, who will have senior oversight for MWI operations. Clinical Directors at MWI will report to the VP, Quality & Risk, Mr Preston Swan, and clinical management will remain under the direct remit of Dr. Chantelle Simmons Chief of Psychiatry and Dr. Anna Neilson-Williams, Deputy Chief of Psychiatry, who is covering Ms Simmons’ maternity leave.
26 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) wishes to remind the public that all patients have to expressly consent to their care before medical treatment or services can be afforded.
The General Consent Form was introduced in August but started with a few departments. On Monday 30 January, this requirement will be applicable in all departments located at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
Traditionally it has been assumed that anyone attending the hospital wanted treatment. Introduction of the General Consent Form now formalises this relationship. The General Consent Form covers routine medical care and non-invasive procedures. Simply put, it is your consent to care. It is worth noting that BHB has always required consent forms for invasive procedures such as surgery and blood transfusions, and that use of these will continue.
Members of the public do not have to sign the form, but failure to sign it means no treatment or services will be given.
Processes are in place for those who are vulnerable and unable to sign on their own behalf. These processes will be extended and used with this additional consent form.
Members of the public can visit the BHB website to review the form as well as frequently asked questions and answers. Anyone requiring more information about the form can telephone 239-1553.
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
24 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board has invested in a pilot project to help combat the impact of chronic disease including cost. The Patient-Centred Medical Home (PCMH) programme is an outpatient referral service for individuals with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, who are not currently seeing a GP and who are under- or uninsured.
“The goal is to keep this at-risk group as healthy as possible and help them manage their chronic diseases,” said BHB CEO Venetta Symonds. “This will help reduce emergency department visits, hospitalisations and complications, such as amputation and dialysis, which impact quality of life and are costly to the healthcare system.”
Patients require a medical referral to receive the service. Medical Director of the Programme Dr Stanley James said these referrals will likely come from GPs, the Emergency Department and the hospitalist service.
The pilot programme began on Monday 7 November. It will run for a year, at which time it will be assessed and a decision made on modifications or continuation.
To date, there are 28 patients registered with the service.
“These patients have complex chronic health conditions and the length of each of their visits correlates to the complexity of their medical and social needs. The complex nature of these patients is served by the cooperation of various healthcare providers—pharmacists, dedicated medical social workers, consultants, along with laboratory and diagnostic facilities that are readily available onsite,” said Dr James. “This approach increases these patients’ adherence to their treatment regimen and also decreases the likelihood that they will fall between the cracks.
“With regularly scheduled follow-up calls and return-to-clinic visits, we are better able to provide reassurance to patients, as well as assess compliance early in their journey towards control of their chronic conditions.”
The Patient-Centred Medical Home is staffed by a team of four: Medical Director Dr Stanley James, Nurse Practitioner Myrian Balitian-Dill, Staff Nurse Cheryl Maronie and Administrator Karen Henry. The service is located on the ground floor of the KEMH General Wing.
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
20 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board is inviting the community to join a conversation about improving services at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute at an ‘Open Space’ event on Thursday 2 February 2017, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Pier Six, on Front Street, Hamilton. Refreshments will be provided.
BHB CEO, Venetta Symonds, comments: “A lot is said about BHB and its services. Our staff work so hard to try and get it right every day and provide excellent care. But we know we can improve and achieve our new vision of ‘Exceptional Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community.’ This community gathering recognises the importance of the voices in our community and gives them a place to talk directly with us about how they think we can get it right more often. It is an event in which they will be heard and make a difference. BHB will not be presenting or setting the agenda. Attendees will come and set up conversations around what is important to them.
“There will be staff participating in the discussions, so questions can be answered if they are relevant to the conversation. But this event allows us to meet with people collectively, listen to what is important to them, act on the feedback and make improvements that will benefit the whole island.”
Mrs Symonds concludes: “This is the first time we have ever tried something of this nature – we are handing over control of the conversation to our community. It comes from a desire to open up BHB and start a two way dialogue to build better, trusted relationships with the people who use our services. We know it will take time for this to happen. This gathering is a first step, and if those who come find it valuable or we find ourselves over-subscribed, we will have more events like this in the future.”
Participants at the event will:
Space is limited to 80, so people are encouraged to book their place early. RSVP by emailing bettertogether@bhb.bm.
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
18 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) Bermuda Hospitals Board today notifies the community that it is replacing the vinyl flooring in the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC). The UCC will be temporarily closed after Thursday 19 January 2017, and it is expected to reopen for business as usual in mid-February.
Marshall Minors, VP Facilities Management & Estates, comments: “We alerted the public last year that we would temporarily close the UCC for this floor replacement work as well as other minor repairs and upgrades to the physical plant. We are committed to providing an ongoing urgent care service from the UCC facility and this work will ensure the building is safe to deliver care for our patients in the long term.
“We apologise for the inconvenience of the closure, but as anyone who has visited the facility in recent months can attest, the flooring needs to be completely replaced. We wanted to undertake this work outside of the hurricane season, and well ahead of the America’s Cup events and peak summer tourist months. We look forward to reopening the UCC in February and we will update the community once the work is complete.”
While the UCC is closed, some UCC staff have been reassigned to the Emergency Department at KEMH to manage the likely increased traffic. The public are reminded to use the Emergency Department service wisely and visit their GP if their situation is not urgent.
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
2 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) welcomed Ethelbert Bakurumpagi to the island on New Year’s Day. Born at 10:41am to parents Flavia Namazzi and Silverous Bakurumpagi, Ethelberht weighed in at 7lbs 8oz and was the first baby born on the island for 2017.
Both first time parents, the couple admitted that once contractions began they were nervous being away from their native Uganda.
“We’ve been working in Bermuda for about two years. We are both accountants – managers at Ernst & Young,” said Mr Bakurumpagi.
Ms Namazzi said: “It was scary most of the time not having our families and extended families around us.”
But Mr Bakurumpagi was quick to note that Maternity Ward staff were warm and patient. “The nurses here were great and they gave us all the attention,” he said.
Ms Namazzi actually attended the ward on 31 December but staff advised the couple that the birth was likely quite a few hours away, so they left the ward at midnight and went home. Returning in the morning, the parents said the birth was quick.
“I can’t thank God enough,” said Mr Bakurumpagi. “And I thank Flavia, she was really great.”
He said he named his son Ethelberht after the first king of England who converted to Christianity.
Ms Namazzi said: “He’s very peaceful and calm. Right now he should be sleeping but he’s lying there just looking at you.”
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
26 December 2016: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) welcomed Ivy Lily Mount to the world at 11:27pm on Sunday 25 December 2016. Ivy, the daughter of Timothy and Leanne Mount, weighed 8lbs 7oz and was 52 cms long.
Ivy is the Mounts’ second child. They also have a two-year-old daughter Gabriella. Mrs Mount said the two births were very different but both babies are Bermuda holiday ones. Gabriella was born at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at Cup Match.
“I was so happy that I was able to have her by natural birth and that labour was not induced,” she said. “The maternity ward staff were great! They were so helpful. You would think that they see babies being born all the time and that they wouldn’t be excited, but as she was coming on Christmas Day the atmosphere was celebratory. They were all cheering for me, which was helpful and really nice.”
Ivy was due on 22 December, and the Mounts said they actually expected her to arrive after Christmas Day.
“We had just finished dinner around 3pm when my water broke,” said Mrs Mount. The couple checked into the Maternity Ward around 4pm, and when labour started they still were not sure that Ivy would arrive on Christmas Day.
Leanne admitted that as midnight got closer she made a conscious effort to push for Ivy to come before the date changed. And she was successful. The Mounts said they would be bringing Ivy’s older sister Gabriella in to the ward today (Boxing Day) to meet her new baby sister.
Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.
With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.
For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.
22 December 2016: The Bermuda Hospitals Board wishes the public a happy and safe holiday weekend. If urgent medical care is required, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) in St David’s will be open from noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday, and from 4pm to midnight on Monday 26 December and Tuesday 27 December.
Please note that if your condition is serious, attendance at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) may still be necessary. BHB also reminds the public that emergency physicians attend to patients in the order of the severity of their condition.
If you need to contact the UCC call 298-7700. To contact KEMH Emergency Department call 239-2009.
Newly appointed urologist Gordon Kooiman (photo provided)
Bermuda Hospitals Board this afternoon announced that Gordon Kooiman has been named the new director of urology at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
According to a statement, the appointment of a urologist was needed to meet demand for services, including the diagnosis and treating of people with cancer in the urinary tract, enlarged prostates and kidney stones.
http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20161214/new-bhb-urologist-appointed