Georgetown: This year the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary. The institution has made tremendous strides over the years, overcoming challenges, such as a fire in 2011, to become an even better health service provider.
The hospital, with its 24-hour services, boasts a highly specialized team of doctors, nurses, therapists and caregivers that make it second to none in health care in Guyana.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Vivakeanand Bridgemohan says the institution has been working tirelessly over the years to become the premier health institution in the country, in keeping with its mission to deliver quality care to people in Guyana.
“In the revised plan we are looking to secure a sustainable future existence of the hospital with improved quality and spectrum of services and therefore we are improving the hospital and empowering not just as a hospital but as a ministry of the Catholic Church to heal all people regardless of your religion. As a catholic institution we serve everybody. That is our mission,” he points out.
Recognizing that the health system is becoming increasingly competitive in Guyana, Dr. Bridgemohan knows that Guyanese have become more conscious about what it really means to receive quality care and as the country develops, this means that medical institutions will have to continuously improve their standards.
“Since the fire in 2011, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital has been embracing development and welcoming into the departments new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, with high levels of skilled and professional health care workers to effectively and efficiently produce on each occasion, high quality care service,” he said.
Special Services
Mercy Hospital, as it is widely known, is now the only institution in Guyana to have 24-hour Radiology Imaging Services with an on-site radiologist living at its Parade Street location. This allows for CT scans, MRIs, Ultra Sounds and other such tests to be done on a 24-hour basis with a specialist on stand-by for further assistance.
“According to American Stroke Policy a person would need to have a CT scan done in cases of stroke related sickness, in less than one hour, and we are the only facility in Guyana that can produce that in less than one hour on a 24 hours schedule, complying with that requirement,” the CEO pointed out.
Recognizing that cancer continues to be a major concern, the hospital is also offering specialized care in this area. Highly qualified and experienced surgeons specializing in cancer pathologies have been installed. “The hospital laboratory will be set up to do pathology tests so that women who require procedures such as pap smear and cytology testing can have these done at the hospital,” Dr. Bridgemohan said, adding “chemotherapy is offered for breast cancer, cervical cancer and general gynaecological cancer.”
The hospital has also been placing much emphasis on women's health. The facility has retained a female gynaecologist who is highly qualified and has proven to be very effective. “We have answered the call for women who prefer to see a female gynaecologist, so for over many years the hospital has installed a female gynaecologist who is highly qualified, pleasant and has proven to be very good. Many persons have spoken of their satisfaction of the services they have been receiving,” the CEO indicated.
Further expanding on the hospital's specialties, Dr. Bridgemohan said, “The other area which we have developed is Neuroscience…now the hospital has a neurosurgeon on staff and we have also been conducting neurosurgery. We are connecting to a network called the JIPA Network which connects us with over 200 facilities including physicians, very good neurologists like Dr. Nedd and neurosurgeons such as Dr. Crandon from Jamaica.”
The JIPA Network collaborates with medical experts, with state-of-the-art technologies and services, in order to provide patients with access to health care, critical medical services and elective procedures.
While invasive neurosurgery is conducted at Mercy Hospital, there may be instances where additional medical treatment overseas is required. In this regard, Dr. Bridgemohan said patients are efficiently moved through the JIPA Network for fast and affordable care elsewhere and can access after-surgery physiotherapy at the rehabilitation center located at Mercy Hospital.
The facility also boasts a well-staffed Pediatric Nursery. “We have probably the most qualified pediatricians in Guyana, including our lead pediatrician, who, besides being a pediatrician, holds a Masters Degree in infections in children, and Post Graduate Degree in ICU for children, with over 20 years experience,” the CEO pointed out.
Emergency Care
The emergency unit works 24 hours per day, inclusive of holidays and weekends and is always staffed with experienced qualified nurses trained in Basic Life Support and advanced cardio-life support and trauma. Nurses are supported by physicians who are always on site so there is never an instance where emergency doctors have to be called in. “Every doctor has at least 5 years experience . The Emergency Room is supported by two operating theatres that work on a 24-hour basis. Of the two theatres, one is the largest that exist in Guyana," the CEO stated.
Future Plans
A special facility for the elderly, under the management of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is set to be commissioned before the end of 2015. It is envisioned that at the facility, persons with special conditions such as schizophrenia and dementia can be treated and properly cared for. The facility is being built to accommodate some 50 persons.
Dr. Bridgemohan says while “we are not God and we can’t resolve everything” rest assured that at Mercy Hospital patients receive expert medical care and services and the highly trained staff do all that is humanly possible to ensure issues are resolved.
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