Generous donation after life-saving cardiac care

Thursday 29 February 2024: Medical equipment and staff training worth half a million dollars has been donated to Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) by two patients.

Mr Bengt Nygren and his wife Brigitta were so impressed with the care they received from BHB cardiologists that they donated $500,000 to the hospital.

The couple, in their eighties, moved to Bermuda just before the COVID-19 pandemic. On separate occasions they became patients of BHB’s cardiologists: Mr Nygren with BHB Consultant Cardiologist and Director of Outpatient Specialty Clinics Dr Joseph Yammine; and Mrs Nygren with BHB Director of Cardiology Dr Sam Mir.

Each received a diagnosis which led to them having cardiac procedures overseas.

“We were so pleased and grateful for the care and attention both Dr Yammine and Dr Mir afforded us,” said Mr Nygren. “Our diagnoses were actually missed by our previous physicians overseas. And it’s all thanks to the BHB team that we were able to have our operations and can look forward to many more years together with our family.

“My wife and I wanted to express our gratitude and felt that a donation to strengthen the work of the department was appropriate,” he added.

The Nygrens made their half-million dollar donation to BHB’s Cardiac Diagnostic Unit through the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation.

“Mr and Mrs Nygren’s decision to show their gratitude for services we rendered, with this generous donation is inspiring,” said BHB CEO and President, Scott Pearman. “We are a community hospital and our staff strive to provide the best service to every patient. We thank the Nygren’s for their gift. It has enabled us to begin expanding our cardiac services which will benefit all Bermuda residents,” he added.

“Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation is pleased to have facilitated the donation on behalf of Mr and Mrs Nygren,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director, Kim Pratt. “We are very grateful to the Nygrens for recognising the need and supporting BHB in enhancing cardiac services to the community.”

“The funds were used to purchase 14 new mobile ECG carts which are used throughout the hospital, and a treadmill used to screen for coronary artery disease,” said Dr Mir. “Some of the funds were also used to train staff in a new service BHB is developing. The vascular programme will assist in assessing and treating peripheral artery disease.”

Dr Yammine said: “The Nygrens are a very thoughtful and caring couple. Their gift has already helped so many and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

-ends-

Photo

Pictured from left: Kim Pratt, Executive Director, Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation; David Lang, President, Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation; Dr Joseph Yammine, BHB Consultant Cardiologist and Director of Outpatient Specialty Clinics; Marlah Edwards, BHB Clinical Supervisor, Cardiology; Bengt Nygren; Scott Pearman, BHB CEO and President; Dr Sam Mir, BHB Director of Cardiology; and Preston Swan, BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer.

29 February 2024 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 Food Services team completes nutrition course

Wednesday 24 February 2021: Seventeen members of the Food Services team at Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) completed a 16-week nutrition course this month. The sessions were led by registered dietitian Arlene MacGuinness, owner of ANEW – Applied Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness.

ANEW is registered as an advanced facility with the Bermuda Health Council’s Provider Advantage Programme.

“The Food Services leadership team and all the cooks took the course,” said BHB Food Services Manager Norman Gardener. “The presenter was engaging and it was good to have our team’s nutrition knowledge refreshed.”

Although already trained in nutrition, BHB Executive Chef Thomas Frost said: “The course was beneficial in that it brought the whole team together where we could pause and focus on how we can improve our service, both to patients and to staff.”

“Focusing on nutrition fuels the excitement I already have about cooking and creating meals,” said Sivakumar Senthamaraikannan, cook for 7 Point Café, the staff cafeteria at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH). “I thank management for recognising the need for this type of culinary and nutritional training, and I am looking forward to forging a greater relationship with the dietitians.”

“Knowing I play a part in the health of staff and patients who eat what I prepare motivates me to do my best,” said cook Romey McDonald. “To know what’s nutritious and how to retain the nutrition in those items so that they can benefit those who consume it is important.”

Assistant Food Services Manager Nathalie Barnett-Dill said: “This focus on training is a part of Food Services’ mandate to ensure our team stays current with opportunities that are available in the ever-evolving food industry.”

Deputy CEO R Scott Pearman said: “On behalf of the management team, I congratulate the Food Services team for investing in measures to ensure our patient and staff meals have the appropriate nutritional balance, taste and quality presentation. With the vast array of dietary restrictions our inpatients have to adhere to, the job of our Food Services staff can be challenging, but they are dedicated to ensuring a positive experience for all our patients.”

The culinary training course included the following:

Session 1: The Power of Food

Session 2: Nutrition Standards and Tools

Session 3: Carbohydrates

Session 4: Fats and Oils

Session 5: Proteins

Session 6: Vitamins, Minerals and Phytochemicals

Session 7: Planning Healthful Menus

Session 8: The Flavour Factor

Session 9: Healthful Cooking Techniques

Session 10: Communicating Nutrition Messages

Topic 11: Food for Healthful Living

Topic 12: Serving Guests with Special Health Needs

24 February 2021 Home Page, News

Bermuda Hospitals Board promotes healthy drinks options for its staff

19 October 2017: The Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is taking the lead in helping its staff attain better health by cutting all drinks with high sugar content from its staff cafeterias.

BHB’s Hotel Services Department has been phasing out its beverage offerings that contain more than 15grams of sugar per serving.

“This policy change will result in the elimination of all sodas (except diet), all fruit and all energy drinks that contain high-fructose in excess of the 15 grams per serving limit we have instituted,” said BHB Chief Operating Officer Scott Pearman. “Waters and drinks that contain less than 15g sugar will remain in stock,” he added.

Mr Pearman noted that contrary to the national trend of lower health insurance premium increases, the health insurance premiums for BHB’s employee plan rose 18 percent this year. This increase was not due to inflationary policies by Government or insurance companies.

“The increase was a direct result of actual hospital and major medical claims by our staff exceeding the claims of peer populations by 30 percent,” he said. Chronic diseases were the primary driver of these claims.

BHB’s Dietary Department revealed that the top five beverages sold in staff cafeterias at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) from 1 April 2016 until 30 September 2017 contained a total of 3,070,778 grams of sugar.

“At BHB we have consumed 3.16 tons of sugar or an average of 3.5 pounds of sugar per staff member over the past 18 months,” said Mr Pearman. “Although our cafeterias serve members of the public as well, the sugar consumption calculation includes only our top five brands so total consumption is actually understated,” he added.

Most of the offending drinks are no longer available in the hospitals’ cafeterias. “By November first we will not have any overly sugary beverages available in our KEMH staff cafeteria or vending machines,” said BHB Director of Hotel Service Jerome Swainson. “By Christmas the same will be true at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute,” he added.

“Research shows that chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension can be significantly reduced by lifestyle choices,” said BHB Endocrinologist Dr Annabel Fountain. “Through this policy, BHB is creating an environment that supports and promotes healthier choices which will reduce the risk of developing these conditions,” she added.

“Staff are rightfully disgruntled when health insurance premiums increase substantially like they did last year, but the rise was driven by expenditures for chronic disease related to our care,” said Mr Pearman. “Removing beverages with greater than 15 grams of sugar will increase staff awareness of the dangers related to high sugar diets. It will also make it easier for us to make better choices. It’s our hope this will result in a healthier workforce and keep health insurance rates at reasonable levels,” he added.

Mr Pearman continued: “Our cafeterias are convenient and popular dining destinations for many of our 1750 staff. Most importantly we believe that eliminating unhealthy options will help us on the road to better health and wellness.”

Debbie Jones, Chairman Bermuda Diabetes Association has endorsed the move taken at BHB. She said: “The hospital is taking the first step in helping to make BHB employees healthy. By ensuring that sugary drinks contain no more than 15grams is supporting the message that people should be choosing water first. Water contains no grams of sugar. Hopefully every employer in Bermuda will follow the hospital’s lead.”

Minister of Health the Hon. Kim Wilson JP MP also threw her support behind BHB’s efforts. She said: “I have long been concerned about the high sugar content in what we consume.  The Throne Speech committed to Government leading the way in wellness by encouraging its employees to make healthy choices. BHB employees see far more clearly than the rest of us the negative health outcomes from obesity and diabetes so I’m delighted that our largest healthcare provider is leading by example. We, in Government, have promoted water only practices and policies in schools through the Healthy Schools Programme, and we are looking to re-introduce the Vending Machine Policy for Government premises, in order to improve healthy options. I urge others to choose water as the first option. A concerted effort by the whole community to reduce our population’s intake of sugar will not only make us healthier, it will also reduce the cost of healthcare premiums.”

19 October 2017 Home Page, News