Cathy Stovell, Author at Bermuda Hospitals Board

About Cathy Stovell

Community Intellectual Disability Team hosts Exceptional Summer event

Monday 8 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Community Intellectual Disability Team (CIDT) will be hosting its Exceptional Summer BBQ Celebration at the end of August.

“This is the second social event we’ve created this year specifically for our intellectual disability community and their families,” said Chris Cunningham, manager of CIDT. “To mark the first anniversary of our team, we held A Fete of Exceptionalities in June at the Warwick Parish Council Field. That was so well received that we decided to create another social event.”

Exceptional Summer BBQ Celebration will take place on Saturday 27 August at Clearwater Beach from 11am-2pm.

“The main objectives of these events are to provide our clients with safe space for meaningful interaction with the general community and their peers,” said Morrisa Rogers, clinical director of the Intellectual Disability Programme. “It’s our hope that other event organisers will, through our example, understand how to make inclusion possible for those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Diversity and inclusion have far reaching positive effects on all members of our community.”

8 August 2022 Home Page, News

38 college and university students join BHB for summer internships

Thursday 4 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has employed 38 students in its Summer Student Programme this year. The 12-week programme provides college and university students an opportunity to gain experience, develop skills, and make important business contacts in their field of interest.

Students this year are from a wide range of disciplines and degree programmes, both clinical and non-clinical.

“Our 2022 cohort of interns comes from 29 different institutions based in Bermuda, Canada, Curacao, Cyprus, the UK and the US,” said Asia Ming-Raynor, manager of the BHB programme. “They are working across various departments within our organisation. We have seven medical students, who are at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), two psychology students who are based at our Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI), and four nursing students who work across both campuses.”

Students are also working in the following BHB departments: Facilities Management, Finance, hospital medical records, Environmental Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Lab Services, Long Term Care, Neurology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Project Management and Imaging Services.

“We are pleased to offer this experience to our young Bermudians,” said BHB Deputy CEO Scott Pearman, “particularly as we had to cut back during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“BHB has offered summer internships since the 1960s, but in 2000 we revamped the programme, expanding it to include non-clinical interns in the many supporting areas of the organisation.

“While our 2022 intake is lower than pre-pandemic years, we are greatly encouraged by the high calibre of those that have joined us this year. We also thank the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation (BHCF) and their corporate donors, who have funded the programme.”

“We recognise the importance of supporting and encouraging excellence in our future BHB workforce,” said BHCF Executive Director Lisa Sheppard. “We donated $150,000 for this year’s Summer Student Programme. An important aspect of the student work experience is that on completion of their studies, they are motivated to return to Bermuda and to BHB.”

Over the past five years, BHB has employed 236 Bermudian interns in its summer programme. Of those, 39 were medical students, 191 were general studies students, and six were culinary arts students.

BHB’s 2022 summer students are: Ma Jasmin Bacabac, Asrael Basden, Llewllyn Burgess, Annefa Burke, Gianluca Cacace, Tahj Cox, Maya De Silva, Jay-Quan Dill, Delia Ebbin, Justin Ebbin, Yanni Gibbons, Dedra Hayward, Jahkera Hill-Ingham, Chantae Hollis, Christopher Jackson, Haleigh Martin, Ryley Mason, Gabriella Medeiros, Erika Morris, Fatima Muhammad, Sierra Pacheco, Kyon Parfitt, Abigail Powell, Jaeshri Romeo, Shondreka Scraders, Tiara Shine, Kyasia Simmons, Ari Smith, Keishun Swan, Charlotte Theisen, Nathan Titterton, Keiron Tucker, Ceola Wade, Izeya Wainwright, Shania Wedderburn, Destiny White, Katherine White and Diego Wilson.

Applications for BHB’s 2023 Summer Student Programme will be released on the website BHB Jobs NOW – Bermuda Hospitals Board, in December.

BHB Summer Student Statistics 2017-2022

4 August 2022 Home Page, News

BHB laundry gets $6.6 million upgrade

Sunday 24 July 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has started a $6.6-million project to renovate its ageing laundry facility. The Laundry & Linen Department has been housed in the basement of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s (KEMH) General Wing since the facility was constructed in the 1960s.

“Renovation of this area is necessary as the infrastructure is almost 60 years old and failing,” said BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer Preston Swan. “This department services all the laundry for both our hospitals, KEMH and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. On average, 5,000 to 6,000 pounds are processed in the facility every day.”

The old facility closed in early July to facilitate the upgrade and has a December 2022 completion date.

“New hot and cold water lines, steam piping and exhaust ductwork will be installed to replace the ageing infrastructure,” said BHB Principal Engineer Ellsworth Wainwright.

“The old boiler room building will be demolished, and a new building will be constructed to house the new hot water system, allowing the washers to operate more efficiently,” he added.

Those efficiencies will reduce costs.

“We have experienced complete equipment failures multiple times over the past year, putting the organisation at material risk in being able to execute our mandate,” said BHB Hotel Services Director Jerome Swainson. “The new modern equipment will provide efficiencies in wash cycles, and water and chemical use, as well as reduced energy consumption.

“Additional savings will be achieved in the reduction of additional hours, overtime and outsourcing due to frequent equipment downtime over the years.”

BHB Laundry & Linen Department transition

The Laundry & Linen Department has 33 staff, all of whom remain employed within BHB during the renovation. Most of the staff carry out their regular duties, such as sorting, folding and distribution, from a temporary workstation created in another area of the basement. A few laundry operators have been redeployed to one of the outside service providers, which have been retained to launder BHB’s linen while the renovations are underway.

Greymane Construction is the general contractor for the project.

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24 July 2022 Home Page, News

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