With a looming hurricane on the horizon and the possibility of extreme weather and utility outages hitting the Cayman Islands, the Doctors Hospital Cayman team collaborated to evaluate and execute a plan for the welfare of laboring mothers and urgent cases patients. As a result of swift action in accordance with established emergency preparedness protocols, the following are some key points of success:
1. Cayman’s very own #BerylBaby delivered at Doctors Hospital:
In the middle of the night as the worst of the impact approached, the combined efforts of Dr. Tamara Bugembe (Paediatrician at Doctors Hospital and Integra Healthcare), and Dr. Lisa Hinzmann (OBGYN at Doctors Hospital and Cayman Fertility), performed an emergency C-section to safely deliver a new life to the world – Baby Vinya [vin-ah-ya]. Both doctors involved in the delivery had volunteered to be on-site to support patients and serve the community in emergency cases, should the need arise.
For the baby’s mother, the calm, collected nature of the team and knowing she was in expert care helped shape her positive birthing experience.
The mother shared:
I arrived at Doctors Hospital on Wednesday for an ultrasound, still in my work clothes.
When they told me how big the baby was, I called Dr. Ziggy, my OBGYN, who said I needed to deliver the baby that day and explained why. Trusting Dr. Ziggy, I agreed, even though I was afraid, this C-section would be my first surgery.
I let myself cry to let the emotions out because I was feeling nervous and anxious.
Dr. Ziggy assured me it would be quick, and it truly went by fast—in seconds, the baby was out. Once I heard Baby Vinya [vin-ah-ya] start to cry, I didn’t care about anything else; I just wanted to see her.
When my husband and I look into her eyes, it feels like a miracle that she is finally here. We cannot thank the Doctors Hospital team enough.
Dr Ziggy, had the following to say:
I’m very grateful to both Dr. Lisa Hinzmann and Dr. Tamara Bugembe for overseeing this procedure and the level of care they showed my patient. As they are both new to Doctors Hospital, I’m glad they adapted so well and exemplified the commitment to patient care that is typical of the Cayman medical community and our team at DH.
2. Cardiac Cath Lab Performed Hours Before Storm Hit
Reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to urgent care, Dr. Krzysztof Kukula was called upon hours before a ‘Shelter-In-Place’ order was issue to perform a Cardiac Cath Lab operation on a patient who had just experienced a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) [heart attack]. Completing the procedure successfully, Dr. Kukula and the Doctors Hospital team worked in collaboration with the H.S.A. to transport the patient back into their care for post-treatment observation.
Commenting on the procedure, Dr. Kukula said:
It is the duty of my profession and the kind of care you can expect when you come to Doctors Hospital.
Our patients come first, and we have the expertise and facilities always available to make sure we deliver our best, even in the midst of chaos.
I am grateful to have been able to support this patient’s needs in collaboration with the team at Health Services Authority .
3. Extended Pharmacy Hours To Support Patient Needs
To ensure patients were fully prepared with a supply of crucial medications should an extended period of Shelter-In-Place be necessary, Doctors Hospital Pharmacy remained open to service the community for an additional 2 hours past the closure of other pharmacies on-Island.
4. Hospital Fully Operational As Soon as All-Clear Provided
Within 30-minutes of the All-Clear being issues by the Cayman Islands Government, Doctors Hospital was able to reopen with full-operations which included; 24/7 Urgent Care walk-in, Generalist and Specialist Appointments, in-house Laboratory, full Diagnostic Radiology Capabilities, and comprehensive on-call Pharmacy.
Hospital leadership expresses significant gratitude to their team members who stepped up at a time when uncertainty was on the horizon.
Richard Preece, Medical Director of Doctors Hospital shared:
We’re so incredibly proud of our team but also to the patients that day in and day out trust our readiness to deliver consistent and exceptional care.
We pride ourselves on our ability to react in any situation with a full team and comprehensive facility.
(Source: Doctors Hospital)
About Doctors Hospital:
Doctors Hospital provides quality health services and some of Cayman’s most technologically advanced diagnostic testing and imaging services. Founded in 2000 and located in the heart of George Town, Grand Cayman, Doctors Hospital is the leading provider of international-standard, private-sector hospital and healthcare services in the Caribbean.
