BVIHSA launches medical partnership with Puerto Rican Group
During his remarks at the launch ceremony, Premier Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith described the relationship as being special and symbiotic. “We Virgin Islanders travel through Puerto Rico to make many connections throughout the world as well as to seek medical attention and to shop and to sometimes vacation,” Premier Smith said.
He also pointed to large numbers of Puerto Ricans coming to the Virgin Islands to vacation, invest and to participate in the annual Yacht Club regatta. Premier Smith also stated that the partnership was an example of the latest frontier that furthered the ways neighbouring countries should live.
According to Dr Smith, the benefits of the partnership were two-fold – one being that the level of services would rise to meet the aspirations and needs of the people of the Virgin Islands in addition to an expressed confidence in Virgin Islanders and visitors among us.
“As a doctor, ” he said, “this partnership makes me optimistic; as a resident, this partnership makes me comfortable; and as a Premier, this partnership makes me proud.” Premier Smith also added that he was a physician first and politician after.
Secretary of State for Puerto Rico, Lieutenant Governor Honourable David Bernier disclosed that, "These are the kind of agreements we want to be signed. They are the ones that have immediate positive impact and benefit for both countries.” He also added that the quality and high technology standards of our health care services are our best asset to help us open many doors in the region.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the BVIHSA, Mrs Darlene Carty Baptiste, this collaboration is critical to our future.
She noted, “The future of the BVIHSA depends a great deal on our human capital, and definitely enhancing the quality of our services through this partnership is WIN-WIN. We have recognised that this is not something that the BVIHSA can do alone and with HIMAHealth as a partner we are positioning ourselves to not just meet the demands of our clients, but to exceed them.”
“As we launch this partnership today,” she continued, “I encourage the BVI to embrace the possibilities of the bright future ahead of us.”
“The first clinic starts next week Friday and we welcome our clients from the Virgin Islands. Imagine, no more travelling overseas, no more TSA check points, no more long drives, taxis, and booking of hotels to access medical care. Anyone who seeks hematology/oncology, pulmonary, nephrology, and neurosurgery care can do so right here at Peebles Hospital,” she said.
Executive Vice President for HIMA•San Pablo Group, Armando Rodríguez, Esq expressed that it was not often that you can find cooperation in health care. As a matter of fact, he said, in Puerto Rico you don’t find it at all. For Mr Rodriguez, the partnership was one of access but this was only half the battle.
“One of the sad parts that we have discovered throughout the years that we have been working with the Health Authority,” he stated, “is that access prevents us from being able to offer the latest treatments to the people of the BVI.”
He added that this was the first step to reaching out in a first phase in telemedicine that will allow the group to offer treatment and a standard of care that would bring the necessary tools for the practitioners here to offer to patients. More phases are expected to follow. “There is a lot more that we can do together,” he added.
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton said the relationship will improve the Territory’s health care services to its people adding that it will allow the Authority to provide specialist clinics and emergency services.
“There has been and will continue to be an ongoing cry for better health care services at Peebles Hospital,” said Hon. Skelton, “today we are pleased to offer the assurance that health reform is on the way.”
HIMAHEALTH is a service provided by Grupo HIMA•San Pablo, a privately-funded hospital group with hospitals in the areas of Caguas and Bayamon, Fajardo and Humacao that mainly cater to patients from the Caribbean region and United States mainland.
HIMAHEALTH hospitals are fully accredited by the Joint Commission, and their facilities are staffed with world-class physicians possessing backgrounds from some top U.S. hospitals including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, and Memorial Sloan-Kattering Cancer Centre among others.
The launch ceremony was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and BVIHSA.
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29 Responses to “BVIHSA launches medical partnership with Puerto Rican Group ”
The BVI has trained medical staff, here and overseas. every one of them should be offered the opportunity to apply for jobs at our Hospital before a single member of HIMAHEALTH or exisiting staff be allowed to come here
That means that we already have 1 doctor too many, so we don't need any 100 extra doctors.
Dat ole sometimeish speak r@$Z will be gone too after the next election...hahahaha hehe
Were discussions held with any other providers so that the BVI could get the best deal.
was this another single provider negotiation with no consultation?
No matter which P (ND or VI) the same difference
Somebody also need to do an investigation on what kind of bonuses they paying to their inept executive team at tax payers expense