The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

NEW MEDICAL technology that will outfit the multimillion dollar critical care block at the Princess Margaret Hospital is expected to make healthcare easier and less expensive for Bahamians.

The construction project that began in November 2011 involves a 75,000 square-foot addition that will span three levels. When completed in the next few months, the new critical care block will feature modern spaces, while maintaining a localised look and feel.

The facility will consist of 18 recovery beds, 20 intensive care unit rooms, 48 neonatal intensive care beds, a new main entry and new laboratory facilities according to the Public Hospital Authority.

Features to cater to Family Island patients are also included in the new critical care block, eliminate distance barriers and improving medical services for all.

According to Dr Hubert Minnis, former Minister of Health, said the new technology will allow people in the Family Islands to have the same services as those living in New Providence or in Grand Bahama.

“An individual, let’s say in Grand Bahama or on some other Family Island would be able to be monitored by New Providence without coming to Nassau. So you can have an intensive care unit in New Providence and you can have an intensive care monitoring of a patient in Abaco by New Providence,” he said.

The centralisation of facilities in Grand Bahama and New Providence will also eliminate the cost of travelling, so that families are not compromised economically. He said travelling to receive medical care is expensive because in most cases other family members have to accompany patients wherever they go. Living arrangements and other things are necessary for such trips.  

“Instead of duplicating this facility in every other island in the Bahamas, everything is centralised. So the centralised facilities will be Grand Bahama and New Providence, which means that an individual in Abaco or Inagua can have access to the same facility without having to travel to Nassau.

“The individual in Inagua would not necessarily have to travel to Miami or wherever because now we are creating one Bahamas, cutting down on cost,” he told Tribune Health.

The telemedicine technology will also allow doctors in other parts of the world to be intimately involved in various surgical procedures. Doctors in the Bahamas operating on patients can connect with other doctors in another parts of the world to obtain second opinions.

“For tourists, if they are being operated on here, their doctors can get involved in the operation and give their opinion. That would bring great comfort to the patient. A tourist would be happy knowing that if they are visiting Exuma and anything should happen to them they can be monitored by a physician in New providence or wherever. They do not have to travel a lot. They do not have to worry about airfare, expenses for themselves, and their families being away from work which has economic impact. The families can still work knowing that they are being seen by a physician else where, and being monitored by a physician else where, or having second and third opinions by a physician else where,” he said.  

Dr Minnis said the technology in the new critical care block was designed with a view towards healthcare of the future.

“We wanted to ensure the poorest among us had access to specialist care from anywhere around the world because he or she will not have money to travel here and there unlike the wealthy in our country who can travel anywhere they want. We wanted to ensure that there is equality of services for especially the middle class and the poor,” Dr Minnis told Tribune Health.

Bedding for young infants and facilities where fathers can participate in the caring and comfort of their newborn children is also something new in the hospital.

“Studies have suggested that with fathers involved with their kids, and placing them on their chests increases the bonding outcome later on in life.”

The critical care block is expected to be turned over to the government in October and open for patients “shortly thereafter”, according to hospital officials.