BHB CEO Notifies of Early Retirement in 2020

Wednesday 4 September 2019: Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces that Mrs Venetta Symonds, President & CEO, will be taking early retirement in July 2020 on her 40th year anniversary with BHB.

Mrs Symonds has given 12 months’ notice to the Board of her decision, 6 months longer than the notice period required by her contract. She remains committed to BHB and will continue to support what is required from the hospitals for healthcare reform over the coming year.

Mrs Symonds comments: “This has been a difficult decision to make, but after over 40 years working at BHB, there is so much I still want to do in my life while I am healthy and able. My time off earlier this year showed me there is still so much I want to learn and develop that I have put off due to work commitments. I have been so fortunate to have the opportunity to lead one of the most caring and dedicated group of staff since I became CEO in 2012.  I am proud of all that has been achieved through multiple changes and transitions over the last seven years, and I look back over the decades and feel such gratitude too for all the progress I’ve been a part of and the wonderful people I have worked alongside. Even after I retire, I am sure I will still look for ways to support the hospitals and healthcare in Bermuda.”

Mr William Madeiros, BHB Chairman, adds: “We would like to thank Mrs Symonds for her four decades of service to Bermuda and her leadership as CEO over the last seven years. BHB has flourished under Mrs Symonds’ vision and direction. Quality has improved, there is a strong strategy in place driving exceptional care, a strong partnership and a healthy community, and BHB has become a more open, transparent and caring partner under her leadership. We are grateful she has given us a year to transition. The Board’s job is to now develop and implement a leadership transition process. The CEO is appointed by the Board and we will do what is necessary to ensure BHB moves from strength to strength. We will update the community on our process in the coming months.”

The Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim N. Wilson JP MP, says: “Mrs. Symonds has dedicated her entire professional career and personal passion to the Bermuda Hospitals Board. I am certain that everything she did was with the best interest of our country’s hospital and our people at the top of her mind and in her heart. I am grateful to Mrs. Symonds for the advance notice of her intended early retirement, and for her years of service and dedication. I wish her all the best as she enters an exciting new phase in her personal journey. Until then, we continue to stand united as we strive to make Bermuda healthier.”

Improved diabetes management for inpatients

14 August 2019: BHB is focusing on improving inpatient care for diabetic patients, after internal research showed that 33% of inpatients at KEMH have diabetes. Irrespective of the primary cause of their admission to hospital, patients with diabetes are known to have poorer outcomes and longer hospital stays because of their diabetes.

Dr Andrew Jamieson, Endocrinologist, leads BHB’s Diabetes, Respiratory, Endocrinology and Metabolism (DREAM) Centre, and is overseeing this new focus of care.

Dr Jamieson notes: “By optimizing blood sugar control in hospital, many studies have shown that one can improve quality of care for patients with wounds, infections, as well as heart disease and stroke. We are particularly keen to do our part in supporting the hospital’s new stroke service going into the future as, on average, 40% of patients with stroke have diabetes. We want to help people manage their diabetes, return to their homes sooner and improve their wellness and quality of life. Over the longer term this means people with diabetes experience fewer complications, and overall this helps reduce healthcare costs for individuals and the island as a whole.”

Dr Andrew Jamieson and RN Tammoi Simons

The intensive focus on inpatient care includes daily rounding of most patients with diabetes by Dr Jamieson with Diabetes Nurse Educator, Tammoi Simons. That translates to about 30 patients in the Acute Care Wing each day.

Ms Simons undertook the inpatient research on inpatients and focuses on patient education. She adds: “It is staggering to know how many people in hospital have diabetes. We can make a huge difference by reaching them while they are in our care. Our new daily rounding for diabetes gives us time to help patients understand their diagnosis and how to use their medications before they leave hospital. This reduces the chances that patients with diabetes are readmitted simply because they do not understand how to use insulin or other medications. We are also arranging up rapid response follow-up after their discharge with the DREAM Centre staff. ”

This new fast track system provides early support at the BHB’s DREAM Centre for patients who are discharged from the wards or from the Emergency Department.

Dr Jamieson explains: “If we can arrange appointments with the DREAM Centre we can help support an early discharge and give people the support they need to improve their lives. Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes in the Emergency Department or in hospital often require rapid transition to a comprehensive outpatient care once they are discharged from hospital. This is so that they can receive multi-disciplinary preventative care which is critical in preventing readmission, and controlling diabetes as well as avoiding complications in the first place.”

Dr. Jamieson is working on a new protocol for critically ill patients with diabetes and is working with Ms Simons to provide educational services for hospital staff, both nurses and physicians, who also manage patients with diabetes in the hospital.

BHB and Johns Hopkins update on clinical affiliation

6 May 2019: Bermuda Hospitals Board today gave an update on activity of its clinical affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, which now includes a continuing medical education programme for physicians in Bermuda, a residency programme and service improvements in areas such as stroke and psychiatry.

Venetta Symonds, CEO, comments: “I’m excited that we are on this journey to improve on-island care for our families, friends and communities with them. It is BHB’s vision to deliver exceptional through strong partnerships and support a healthy community. We ran a robust and lengthy RFP process for our clinical affiliate and six highly acclaimed hospitals applied and went through extensive review. Johns Hopkins won not only due to their quality and status in the healthcare world, but their deep affinity to and understanding of Bermuda.”

Michael Richmond, Chief of Staff, Bermuda Hospitals Board, comments: “At the heart of the affiliation is access to quality education for physicians in the hospital and Bermuda. Our Continuing Medical Education programme is now accredited by one of the world’s best known and highly respected healthcare providers, and our first CME was held last night.

“We are working with Johns Hopkins as advisers in services we are seeking to improve. Stroke treatment and rehabilitation, for example, is a key focus. We have four to five stroke cases come to the hospital per week. We want to ensure we are giving every stroke patient the best possible chance at full recovery, and also identifying people at risk even earlier to try and prevent one altogether. We are also looking at psychiatry for opportunities to improve and find more effective ways to structure and deliver our services. We look forward to keeping the community updated on all our improvements and especially how our affiliation with Johns Hopkins is improving care for all our community.”

Dr Mohan Chellappa, Executive Vice President and President, Global Ventures, Johns Hopkins Medicine International, comments: “We are honored to contribute to the Bermudian health care journey. Johns Hopkins Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and patient care. And the unique community of Bermuda holds a special place in our hearts at Johns Hopkins.

“We are delighted to now take our commitment a step further, through our clinical affiliation agreement with Bermuda Hospitals Board. We will support BHB staff with education and training, and together, we’re now in the process of establishing a primary stoke centre and preparing for accreditation in the area of acute stroke care in 2021. Our affiliation also includes a programme for Johns Hopkins residents—medical doctors who have graduated from an accredited medical school and are completing additional specialist training at Johns Hopkins. Our residents will complete four-week rotations to Bermuda to perform short-term clinical and quality improvement projects. Our clinical affiliation with Bermuda Hospitals Board is an important part of Johns Hopkins’ vision to enhance health care around the world, by sharing our latest clinical advances and research findings in a way that contributes to local health care needs and goals, for many years to come.”

Red Cross Donates Scooter to Gordon Ward Residents

2 February 2019: Residents on BHB’s Gordon Ward have access to an electric scooter, thanks to a donation from Bermuda Red Cross. The donated scooter will be used by various residents who have mobility issues, to help them within and outside the hospital building.

Executive Director of Bermuda Red Cross, Ann Spencer-Arscott, with Clinical Resource Nurse for Gordon Ward, Roland Peters.

Mr Roland Peters, Clinical Resource Nurse for Gordon Ward, comments: “We are very grateful for this kind donation which is very much appreciated by our unit residents. Some of our residents have physical disabilities, but very much want to be able to move around and get outside. This scooter will help improve the quality of their lives and give them some independence.”

Ann Spencer-Arscott, Executive Director of Bermuda Red Cross, comments: “We are so happy to donate a scooter which will be such a valuable resource for Gordon Ward residents. This is part of our mission to meet the needs of our local population. While this scooter was a donation, we also have a number of scooters available to rent for people who might have temporary mobility issues or are visiting the island. These are a resource for people in Bermuda and they can call us to book one as needed.”

Bermuda Blood Donor Centre thanks polo shirt donors

5 December 2018: Bermuda Blood Donor Centre is today thanking two donors, Mr Peter Barrett and Chubb, who have provided funding for polo shirts that are being awarded to long term blood and apheresis donors who have donated throughout this year.

Peter Barrett first made a donation for the Blood Donor Centre to purchase shirts for people who donated over a 3 month period if they were long term donors. To make this a more regular thank you throughout 2018, Chubb stepped in to fund the rest of the year’s supply of the shirts.  Chubb is also a competitor in the Corporate Blood Donor Competition 2018/19.

Dr Eyitayo Fakunle, Consultant Haematologist, comments: “Our blood donation is entirely voluntary, in line with World Health Organisation best practices. These shirts show our gratitude for people who have donated regularly this year, supported by Mr Barrett and Chubb. We are very grateful to them for this support in recognizing true heroes who save lives in Bermuda every day. Our hope is that seeing friends and family in the polo shirt may also encourage others to overcome whatever inhibitions they have and to join the most giving group in Bermuda – blood and apheresis donors.”

Mr Barrett comments: “It was a pleasure to work with the Blood Donor Centre to initiate this programme.  We should all be very grateful that Chubb has stepped forward to keep this programme going.  For those who can, I encourage everyone to volunteer a small part of their day to donate.  Your pint of blood saves lives and it also helps to manage the healthcare needs of at least three patients.  Without question your donation has a significant ripple effect throughout the community.”