Cathy Stovell, Author at Bermuda Hospitals Board

About Cathy Stovell

KEMH welcomes first babies of 2023

Friday 6 January 2023: Two babies were born on Wednesday 4 January 2023. They were the first for the year. Craig and Monika Rowat welcomed their second daughter, Clara Elizabeth Rowat, at 10:05pm. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was the second baby born that day. The mother of the first baby wanted no publicity.

“Clara was actually due on New Year’s Day,” said her father, Dr Rowat, a Canadian chiropractor on the island. “We were a bit disappointed when she didn’t come that day, but that’s ok, we were happy to greet her on Wednesday night.”

Clara has a 3-year-old sister, Ella, who was born on 9 January 2020 at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. “She came to us just before the pandemic,” said her mother Monika, a native of the Czech Republic who works in Bermuda as the tennis and tourism specialist at Coral Beach and Tennis Club.

“We are very happy with the care we received from all the Maternity staff with both our daughters,” said Dr Rowat. “They were caring, attentive and excellent. We have nothing but praise for them.”

6 January 2023 Home Page, News

Community initiative for old St. James’ Church rectory

Wednesday 21 December 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) is collaborating with Habitat for Humanity and the Anglican Church of Bermuda to provide community-based housing, programmes and support for people with mental health challenges.

The tripartite partnership project will see the old St. James’ Church rectory at Somerset Bridge redesigned and renovated as a residential facility. The repurposed residence will respect the historical nature of the property. It will also provide 24-hour, state-of-the-art treatment for those requiring mental health services, as well as community support from St. James’ Church congregants.

BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer Preston Swan, also vice president of clinical operations for MWI, said: “Research shows that the institutional model for mental health services is outdated. People with mental health needs have better outcomes when housed and supported in their local community, surrounded by their loved ones.

“Providing a stable rehabilitation model in the community helps to improve their quality of life and reduces the frequency of relapse and/or readmission to acute inpatient services.

“We are delighted at the interest and willingness of both Habitat Bermuda and the Anglican Church to partner with us to improve the lives of our clients.”

Habitat Bermuda Chair Sheelagh Cooper said: “It is the mission of Habitat for Humanity to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. This project fulfils all these aims.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to design and renovate the old St. James’ Church rectory to improve the lives of those with mental health challenges, and to be a part of an effort to decrease the negative stigma associated with mental illness on the island.

“The donor community has already shown a great deal of support as they realise the increased need for state-of-the-art psychiatric services in Bermuda. The project is expected to cost between $500,000 and $600,000, but we hope that cost can be significantly reduced with volunteer labour and donated materials from our always generous local building supply companies.”

Anglican Bishop of Bermuda Rev. Nicholas Dill said: “The Anglican Church of Bermuda has five marks of mission – to tell the gospel, to teach the faith, to tend and care for the vulnerable, to transform unjust structure, and to treasure and care for the earth.

“Enabling care of the vulnerable and sick, and ensuring they are treated with equal human dignity is part of the mission to tend and protect.

“In Bermuda, access to appropriate and adequate mental healthcare in a community that still has stigma attached to it, is a matter of justice. Where the vulnerable are denied such due to societal bias, the church is called to transform such structures in partnership with others. Recognising this, with the full support of the parish Vestry, we are pleased to offer the former rectory – Bridge House, at a nominal rent.”

The Bridge House project fits within the 2021-2026 MWI Directorate Plan, which provides a framework to support people with mental health needs in the community. The Plan aims to transform the way BHB provides mental health services. In addition to a physical realignment of where services are provided, the Plan aims to deliver modern, compassionate care using the recovery model principles, which are patient-centred and promote hope, empowerment and self-determination.

BHB Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “This facility is designated as a step away from the hospital system, and will offer integrated and interactive training and skill building programmes.

“It has been developed as an alternative to inpatient care for people with long-term psychiatric needs. Our primary aim is to help people achieve a level of functioning sufficient for success in a less supervised setting with less intensive services.”

BHB Deputy CEO Scott Pearman added: “Our commitment to integrate care and move it from institutions and into our communities is achieved through this tripartite partnership. BHB will manage the facility providing 24-hour staffing, which will include robust in-house recovery and enrichment programmes.

“This healthcare reform will not only help destigmatise care, but allow families to continue to embrace and support their loved ones in a community setting.”

Last year Habitat Bermuda successfully restored what is now the Transformational Living Centre for Families.

“The old St. James’ Church rectory is the second in a series of community-driven projects,” said Ms Cooper. “Our architectural team has already drawn up plans for the facility and will be submitting them to the Planning Department shortly.”

A community meeting was held in which local residents were informed and given an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts. The Anglican Church of Bermuda, BHB as well as Habitat Bermuda, were represented at the meeting. All three were pleased with the community support that the project received.

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Pictured is (from left to right) in front of the old rectory: Anglican Bishop of Bermuda Rev. Nicholas Dill, Habitat Bermuda Chair Sheelagh Cooper, and Acting COO and VP of Clinical Operations (MWI) Preston Swan

21 December 2022 Home Page, News

Nursing initiative at KEMH in the spotlight at international conference

Friday 9 December 2022: A procedure developed by Bermuda Hospitals Board nurses was presented at the British Geriatrics Society Autumn Conference on 17 November. It will be published in the Society’s Age and Ageing Journal in a few months.

The abstract, ‘A Novel Pressure Injury Care Bundle for Dependent Patients with Pressure Injuries in Bermuda’, details a nurse-driven initiative of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Gordon Long Term Care Unit. It was presented by the unit’s quality and safety team, including registered nurses Girlie Baldonado, Jerry De La Cruz, Bernadette Diaz and Bernadine Edwards, Long Term Care Clinical Educator Katrina Drummond, and Gordon Unit Clinical Manager Maxine Simmons.

“Our unit-based quality and safety team – all nurses – developed a procedure to help us better manage pressure injuries and prevent our patients developing them,” said Ms Simmons. “These are wounds that occur on the skin as a result of sustained pressure. When pressure cuts off the oxygen supply to a particular area, an ulcer or wound can appear.

“Long-term care residents, especially those who are confined to bed, are more susceptible to developing pressure injuries.”

The goal of the initiative is to address severe pressure injury cases in patients who are transferred into long-term care. The team created and implemented a specific set of actions which augments the existing pressure injury management care pathway.

Nurse Jerry De La Cruz spoke at the virtual conference, which included more than 700 professionals in the field of geriatrics from around the world. His video presentation detailed the project and documented how the majority of pressure injuries, even in severe cases, healed significantly. The wounds healed completely in half of the cases.

“We looked at 30 patients who were admitted to the unit in this study,” said Mr De La Cruz.

“The results of introducing this pressure injury bundle have been very encouraging for all of us carers on the unit,” said Ms Simmons. “We worked hard looking at actions we felt would address the problem, and I can’t describe the gratification in seeing that it has worked.”

Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson said: “Providing patient-centred care, where we focus on the needs of the patient first, is a BHB value which our Gordon Unit nurses exemplified when they developed this care plan. BHB is proud of their work. The British Geriatrics Society publishing it in their journal gives international recognition of its importance.”

9 December 2022 Home Page, News

MWI to help structure psychiatric telehealth for the Caribbean region

Thursday 8 December 2022: Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) is being recognised as a leader in providing remote mental health services among islands in the Caribbean region.

In November, Karen Grant Simmons, director of mental health services for Bermuda Hospitals Board, presented on telehealth in psychiatry at a virtual meeting of the Nurses Association of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Over 280 nurses attended the conference, held on Friday 25 November 2022, among them Caribbean Nurses Organization president Dr Paulette Cash. Ms Grant Simmons’ presentation was so well received that she was invited to help spearhead a project for the region.

“Dr Cash said that the International Council of Nurses has issued a directive for the Caribbean national nurses associations to get on board with telehealth,” said Ms Grant Simmons, a registered psychiatric nurse. “She requested I work with the Caribbean Nurses Organization and other Caribbean islands to move the initiative forward.

“After learning the extent to which we use telehealth at MWI, they are of the view that Bermuda is leading in the region.”

Ms Grant Simmons has agreed to serve on the Special Projects Committee of the Caribbean Nurses Organization. She will help structure and guide creation of telehealth programmes in psychiatry and psychology for the Caribbean islands.

In her presentation, Ms Grant Simmons spoke on the different ways MWI professionals use telehealth, including online meetings with therapists and phone consultations. She said in many cases, MWI clients prefer virtual meetings as they don’t have to deal with the stigma of being seen at a mental health facility. She noted that during our COVID-19 lockdowns, telehealth enabled clients to continue their therapies.

8 December 2022 Home Page, News

BHB shines green light for mental health awareness

Wednesday 30 November 2022: Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) encourages the public to be joyous and celebratory this holiday season.

“Positive thoughts engender positive feelings, which promote good mental health,” said Preston Swan, vice president of MWI clinical operations and acting chief operating officer for Bermuda Hospitals Board. “This December, we will again light the outside of our sister facility, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Acute Care Wing, in green.”

This year’s theme for mental health awareness is Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Bermuda Priority.

“Making mental health and mental wellbeing a Bermuda priority is not only a matter for the island’s mental health professionals,” said Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson-Williams. “We can all reflect and recognise where we may be feeling stressed or pressured, and take small steps to address our mental health, particularly considering the challenges of recent years.”

Here are a few measures you can take, particularly during this season, to support your mental wellness.

Go outside and be with nature. Disconnect from devices.
Don’t get caught up trying to create a perfect holiday setting or experience. Set small, meaningful goals with family or friends and connect where you can.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out to a professional who can help. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness.

“We encourage you to contact MWI, your GP or one of the many mental health professionals available within our community if you need support,” said Dr Neilson-Williams. “You are not alone.”

The green light for mental health awareness will start at dusk tomorrow, Thursday 1 December 2022.

If you need assistance, please call the MWI Acute Community Mental Health Service at 249-3432. For serious mental health crises at any time of the day or night, call 239-1111.

30 November 2022 Home Page, News

BHB Traffic Advisory for Monday 21 November 2022

No through traffic at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on Monday 21 November

Thursday 17 November 2022: There will be no through traffic at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital from Point Finger Road to Berry Hill Road all day on Monday 21 November 2022.

All people needing to access services in the Acute Care Wing (ACW) should enter the hospital campus from Point Finger Road and use the visitor parking there.

All people needing to access services in General Wing should enter the hospital campus via Berry Hill Road and use the visitor parking there. Pedestrian access to the General Wing will be at the ambulance bay at the former Emergency Department or via the ACW main entrance.

The access restrictions are due to two separate crane lifts of heavy equipment on the campus.

For your safety and the safety of others, please comply with directions of personnel at each site.

17 November 2022 Home Page, News

Start of stroke recovery in Bermuda

Tuesday 25 October 2022: Surviving a stroke is an achievement in itself, but how well a survivor recovers can vary enormously. What are the rehabilitation options for stroke survivors in Bermuda and how can they go about getting the best medical care and support available?

by Dr Elwood I L Fox, DO

According to the Centres for Disease Control, in 2020, stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in the US. Worldwide, World Health Organisation data from 2019 showed stroke as the second leading cause of death behind ischemic heart disease.

Based on my involvement as consultant physiatrist at BHB for over ten years, there is anecdotal evidence of five to 10 stroke patients per week treated through BHB. Not all are being admitted for acute care. Some receive outpatient services through the Rehab Day Hospital.

Furthermore, it is estimated that there are 250 to 300 strokes per year on island with about five percent never receiving medical or rehabilitation treatment during the acute phase. Data collection is required for recording of stroke deaths annually, and would probably reveal greater than 1,000 stroke survivors on island at present.

Some of the main impairments caused by stroke involve cognition, speech and communication, ability to swallow, movement, activities of daily living (ADLs), bowel and bladder dysfunction, and mood and behaviour.

To read the full RG Magazines article, click here.

4 November 2022 Media

Treating the Whole Person

Tuesday 25 October 2022:

by DR SHAWNEE BASDEN, BHB CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Lately, it seems the sound of sirens has become a common occurrence on our small island. Each time I hear them, especially at times when traffic is heavier or late at night, the first thing I do is reach for my phone to check online sources expecting to hear about a traffic accident.

Most of us are experiencing more anxiety lately, wondering if those we love are safe on our roads.

Click here to read the full RG Magazines article.

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4 November 2022 Media

Local newborn makes BHB history

Thursday 3 November 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is happy to announce the birth of the first Bermudian since the implementation of its electronic medical record. The Patient Electronic & Administrative Records Log (PEARL) is the name of the system which went live at both the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) over the weekend.

Frances Ivy Edwards was born at 5:35 on Monday morning to parents Thomas and Kaitlin Edwards. Her birth represents the first Bermudian on the island who will never have had a paper BHB medical record. Her entire record will be digital.

“There was hospital-wide excitement at Frances’ birth,” said BHB CEO & President Dr Michael Richmond. “We consider her our PEARL. Her birth is a historic event for BHB and we are pleased her parents have consented to us sharing the news, her name and photos.”

“I had read the article about the hospital moving to electronic record keeping in the media and thought it was a big step and a positive move for the hospital and the island,” said new mother Kaitlin Edwards. “But I never really thought about what it might mean for my child. It is exciting to recognise that she’s the first to have a paperless medical record at the hospital. I was born here, my husband was born here and so was our son, but she’s not just the first in our family to have a digital birth record, she’s the first in the island. It’s a fun fact she can always be proud of.”

3 November 2022 Home Page, News

Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute thanks Markel Bermuda Limited

Monday 31 October 2022: Bermuda-based Markel Bermuda Limited has long held that good mental health is vitally important. In fact, a gift from the insurance giant to Bermuda Hospitals Board’s (BHB) Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic helped improve MWI’s service offerings.

“The theme of World Mental Health Day, which was celebrated on 10 October, was Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Bermuda Priority,” said Preston Swan, BHB acting chief operating officer and VP of MWI clinical operations.

“Markel Bermuda Limited’s donation to us certainly demonstrates that the company already has this firmly established in its culture. We not only thank them, but also salute them,” he added.

Markel Bermuda donated audio-visual equipment to MWI during the pandemic so treatment for clients requiring mental health services was not interrupted. The gift also allowed MWI inpatients to meet virtually with their families and loved ones.

“The equipment proved invaluable,” said Mr Swan. “It allowed our clients to interact virtually with their clinical teams. In fact, in many cases the virtual meetings were preferred by clients and have continued.”

“We recognise that for many, there is a stigma associated with physically attending MWI,” said BHB Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson-Williams. “The Markel Bermuda gift gave our clients a choice in accessing our services. Being able to attend their sessions from their homes was a welcome change for many of them and in several instances boosted their spirits.

“This is particularly significant as clients were largely negatively impacted by the stresses of being in lockdown and the pandemic itself. That they were able to continue their therapies in that climate is important.

“Equally valuable was that our inpatients were able, thanks to the equipment, to maintain connections with their families and loved ones during the lockdown and post lockdown as, out of necessity, we reduced visitation considerably.

“And the equipment, although specifically intended for use during the pandemic, continues to benefit clients as we still use it,” she added.

“It is heartening to learn that our gift has had this impact on MWI clients and staff,” said Markel Bermuda Limited HR Business Partner Sarah Randall. “At Markel, we recognise the importance of proactively attending to our mental health and certainly ascribe to the theme set for Mental Health Awareness in Bermuda this year – Make Mental Health and Wellbeing for All a Bermuda Priority. We are pleased our gift has aided the community in this goal.”

31 October 2022 Home Page, News