Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has re-launched its Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings via virtual platforms after a hiatus, which was partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first meeting resumed on Thursday, February 25th, 2021, with new and returning members of the CAC, and meetings are held every month.
The sessions have recorded high participation, and the forum is used to canvas the community's voice to include in the hospital's decision-making process.
Head of Family Medicine at TCI Hospital, Dr. Henry Blythe, presented a people-centered project, which seeks to improve health behaviors and health outcomes for persons diagnosed with diabetes in the country. The plan is to achieve these goals by implementing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services.
In March, Chief Executive Officer at TCI Hospital, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, presented the company's strategic objectives for the next four years and canvassed recommendations from CAC members on essential areas to the community.
Chief of Medical Services at TCI Hospital, Dr. Dawn Perry-Ewing, presented on the hospital's partnership and responsibility in the national blood replacement program in April. This session provided members with insight into the current program and sought to explore new opportunities to better leverage community and corporate partnerships. Representatives of the TCI Red Cross were special guests.
Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant presented on a proposed patient portal in May. A patient portal is a secure online platform that gives patients convenient access to certain personal health information. Information Management and Technology Manager at TCI Hospital Ryan Smith was an essential resource for the session.
The CAC is an advisory body comprising ten (10) family, patient, and community representatives not directly affiliated with InterHealth Canada - Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital. These persons are Keno Forbes, Alfonso Palatino, Rochelle Thompson, Sonia K Williams, Stacy Cox, Mary Simmons, Police Officer Jerome Caley, Pastor Alces Dor, Rosemary Jolly, and Candido Moreno. Members hail from different professions and walks of life.
There are two ex-officio hospital members: the Chief Executive Officer and the Public Relations and Marketing Manager, whose roles help enhance CAC activities. Other attendees are by invitation only based on the agenda.
Meetings were held once every quarter in the past, but virtual sessions are scheduled every month to compensate for time lost.