Project News

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Discover Turks & Caicos 2011

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February 2011.pdf

Construction News

Grand Turk internal - July 2009

Those who pass either of the two sites regularly will note that, from the outside, both buildings seem essentially complete. As the more obvious external work comes to a close, there is a large amount of activity inside the buildings whilst the 'finishes' continue, with floor coverings about to be laid, doors being installed and interior painting progressing.

Both sites are on target for completion of construction at the due dates. Landscaping has already begun in both Centres and the overall external ambience of the Centres will be as pleasing as the internal decor when it is complete.

The construction phase draws to a close in late 2009 and we will then see medical equipment being installed, with many companies on site carrying out this important task. Work is already well advanced on the infrastructure for the electronic Hospital Information System (HIS) and all aspects of hospital functions will be covered by this advanced HIS. We will have hospitals which are amongst the first in the region to integrate the latest technology in full electronic hospital administration.

Recruitment Status

It has been most gratifying to see the level of response to adverts for available posts within the Centres, both from within the TCI and overseas. Many posts are now filled and we are in the process of recruiting specialist positions that are needed to ensure the highest achievable level of service. Where possible, contacts with appropriately qualified and experienced Belongers currently overseas have been established in the last quarter to ensure that we build a system which not only provides a high level of care but is also part of the future development of the nation's most important asset - its people.

Since the last newsletter we have been successful in attracting highly qualified and very experienced senior team members. The new chief executive, Dr. Roger Cheesman is already on Island. He joins us from InterHealth Canada in the United Kingdom where he was Chief Operating Officer of our clinical operations for four years. He was our country director in Kuwait for three years before returning to the UK in 2005.

The chief nursing officer arrives in September as does our training officer. Projected for a late September start are our facilities manager and the senior engineer.

From Construction to Commissioning and Implementation

Providenciales external - July 2009

The first members of the clinical and management commissioning and operational teams have been on island in recent weeks: Roger Cheesman, is now resident in Providenciales and regularly travelling to Grand Turk.

Programmes that will move us forward into operational commissioning and on to the commencement of clinical services have progressed in the period since the last newsletter and our on-site commissioning team is growing significantly.

Into the fall and winter, specific key programmes will be developed and implemented, leading up to the opening in April of 2010. A great deal of activity is also taking place at InterHealth Canada offices / centres off island, both in Canada and in the United Kingdom, on the development of clinical and support activities for the Centres, including creating links with other centres for telemedicine. All programmes are designed to meet the standards required by Accreditation Canada and follow the principles of 'Best Practice'.

Who's On Island This Month

In the past weeks we have seen a number of senior personnel on Island. Some, like the new chief executive have taken up residence whilst others are here for shorter periods gathering data in order to work in our other offices on key functions. Some team members on board this month are Fiona McDonnell, facilities manager; Linda Gill, training officer; Russell Fray, corporate IM&T manager; Clarence D'Souza, biomedical equipment planner / specialist; Jane Mealey, clinical lead and Clare Pilkington, HIS administrator.

Shown in this photograph (L to R) are Roger Cheesman, Jane Mealey, Clare Pilkington, Linda Gill and Russell Fray.

Frequently Asked Questions

NEW THIS MONTH

Q. 'What is it that the new hospitals will bring to the Turks & Caicos Islands that isn't here already and why should we believe service and standards of care will be any better than we currently have'

A. Whilst there is insufficient space to say all that can be said, there are a number of key points that are worthy of note here.

Firstly, a major difference is that we do not see two hospitals. Our concept is of a single hospital with high standards but on two Centres. Staff will move between Centres for training and experience on a regular basis so that continuing professional education is assured and both campuses offer the same high level of service.
Both campuses will operate against an agreed set of rigorous Key Performance Indicators. Performance against these indicators is recorded and reported to both the InterHealth Canada Board and the representatives of your government.
Staff will need to be able to demonstrate verifiable evidence of continuing professional development beyond that gained by local training programmes: Proof will be required at least every two years and programmes used must be to a level set by the InterHealth Canada.
Patient care will follow clinical pathways carefully designed to ensure a uniformly high level of care to all. At the start of any care episode requiring an in-patient stay or a day-case intervention, there will not only be a rigorous clinical assessment of the patient's current medical status but also a social assessment of patient requirements prior to discharge so that we can operate a full care plan for each patient that is individually tailored to their circumstances.
All our patient care programmes are created by multidisciplinary teamwork, where medical, nursing, clinical support and other staffs come together to plan the highest achievable outcomes for the patient.
All activities, clinical and non-clinical will be in accordance with Accreditation Canada's strict requirements and this will be independently verified by Accreditation Canada in assessments leading to full Canadian accreditation.
We have already completed the vast majority of project specific policies and procedures, each of which meets the standards required by Accreditation Canada. The application and correct use of these policies will be monitored by a quality assurance system. Our system includes formal risk assessment and risk management programmes, both for clinical activities we undertake and for the general safety of patients, visitors and staff within the buildings and grounds.
Our infection prevention and control policies are stringent, evidence based and have been a key factor in InterHealth Canada's UK Centre becoming the best performing Independent Sector Treatment Centre in the country. The same systems will be implemented on both campuses.
Before commencement of services (and building on the skills already evident on island), we will implement formal training programmes for those who join from the existing hospitals and for those who join us from overseas. This will ensure a uniformly trained cadre of staffs whose standards achieve those set by InterHealth Canada in all its hospitals.
In addition InterHealth Canada is recruiting highly skilled specialist staff to ensure that the latest skills are brought to the project and shared with colleagues.
Stringent governance systems are being put in place for both clinical and support activities. The functions of governance will be supported by experienced managers and an appropriate committee structure, with a formal reporting system to and oversight by relevant governance organs.
It is also worthy of note that InterHealth Canada has proven experience of high calibre services that have been accredited by Accreditation Canada in the Middle East as well as The Care Quality Commission and the National Health Service Litigation Authority in the United Kingdom. These accreditations are evidence of our stringent standards.
Finally, both campuses will be linked by telemedicine and three primary care centres on the 'family islands' will also have links to the system. This will widen the availability of specialist advice to the population and, as well as improving care, will also reduce or eliminate travelling for many patients.

FROM OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER

The questions below were answered in the previous newsletter but are worth a reprint here

Q. What services will the new hospitals provide?

A. Services provided at the hospitals will include diagnostic services, primary care and outpatient specialty clinics, emergency services and inpatient care. Included are:

primary care clinics
outpatient consultation following referral by a GP or Primary Care Provider
pre-operative assessment and preparation
diagnostic imaging
laboratory investigation
surgical, gynecological / obstetric and endoscopic procedures
inpatient care of admitted cases
follow-up outpatient consultation
pharmaceutical care
emergency care

Hospital services, both primary and secondary care, will be delivered in cooperation with services provided by other on-island healthcare professionals and, for more complex or tertiary level care, in cooperation with Government approved "preferred overseas providers".

Q. Who owns the hospitals?

A. Following an intensive tender and bidding process, InterHealth Canada was awarded the contract to build and operate the new hospitals on behalf on your Government. The new hospitals are being provided as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arranged by us and your Government and with the support of a group of financial institutions. In accordance with the agreement between the parties, the hospitals are government hospitals and the buildings and equipment will revert to the Turks and Caicos Islands at the expiration of the current contract.

Q. Will Private Doctors be involved with the new hospitals?

A. In addition to the medical staff who will be working at the hospitals, private doctors may choose to apply for "privileges" at the hospitals: when granted privileges those private doctors may admit and treat their patients at the hospitals in accordance with hospital policies and procedures. Also, private doctors may refer patients to the hospitals for diagnostic tests or treatment.

CONTACTING US

We hope that this second newsletter of the TCI Hospitals Project Newsletter answers some of your questions and that you will be interested to receive future editions as they are published. Also, if you have comments or suggestions for future editions, please send them to rcheesman@InterHealthcanada.tc
More "frequently asked questions" will be answered in future newsletters.