Oneof Cayman's most well-known and respected physicians, Dr. SteveA. Tomlinson, invites the public to attend the grand opening ofthe new Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, at 3:30 pm, Saturday(6 May). The opening of this 18-bed, state-of-the-art privatefacility coincides with the birthday of Dr. Tomlinson's late mother,'Miss Chrissie' - "whom I see as the most important personin my life," he says.The official opening on Saturday will draw some highly-regardedphysicians from the US, many of whom will come to Cayman, alongwith their colleagues from other countries, including the UK,on a regular basis as visiting specialists at the Hospital, includingin such highly specialised fields as cardiovascular surgery.
One of the two operating theatres at the new facility is actually150-percent larger than a usual O.R., to accommodate a heart-lungmachine which will allow doctors to perform open-heart surgerywhen necessary.
With state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic equipment and thelatest in laboratory facilities, Dr. Tomlinson, founder in 1985of the Professional Medical Centre which served Cayman's communitiesfor some 15 years, believes Cayman Islands patients can stay intheir home country and not have to travel to Miami or elsewhereand be surrounded by strangers for tests which previously hadnot been available on the island.
These include the latest in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging),Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine (the first installation of its kindin the Caribbean), a CAT (Computerised axial tomography) scanunit, digital imaging, a complete mammography unit capable ofdoing needle biopsies at the same time, and a bone densometerto aid in the detection and treatment of osteoporsis.
As well as hospital staff physicians, a number of private medicaldoctors maintain offices within the hospital compound in the WestWing, utilising all the hospital's advanced facilities and technology.
One of these is Dr. Sarath de Alwis, a Specialist / ConsultantObstetrician & Gynaecologist, who has delivered thousandsof babies during his 25-plus years as a doctor. "Any motherwould dream of having a son who would build a hospital in hername," he says. "We're proud to be part of his (Dr.Tomlinson's) dream. He's a human dynamo; it's a great job he'sdone," he says of the new facility.
In addition to regularly scheduled medical services, the ChrissieTomlinson Memorial Hospital will offer urgent care for an individualin crisis (not multi-trauma disasters), with an emergency doctoron premises 24 hours a day, with facilities to assess and stabilisethe patient.
The hospital was designed by local architects, CGMJ Ltd., in associationwith APEC consultants, who have extensive experience in the planning,design and interior finishing of Heathcare facilities in Cayman.They also designed the recently completed Government's HealthServices Complex. General contractors for the Chrissie TomlinsonMemorial Hospital was Olson Construction.
Dr. Tomlinson's sister, Mrs. Jacqui Smith, the island's firstCaymanian phsyiotherapist, heads up the state-of-the art physiotheraphydepartment, which treats muscular pain, neurological problemsand aids in stress reduction. A complete gym is also in place,as well as an outside pool with hydrotherapy jets and specialwalkways and gravel paths to rehabilitate those who have beendisabled.
"I am excited about this wonderful milestone my dear brotherhas accomplished for all of us in the Cayman Islands," Jacquisays."I am exceptionally pleased to have a say in ensuringthat our Hospital is 'family-centred and baby-friendly",two things I feel very strongly about," she adds.
These considerations, Dr. Tomlinson says, obviate the need forCaymanians to undergo the expense and inconvenience of havingto travel abroad to obtain first-rate medical care with the latestin modern technology and computerised diagnostic systems beingright here on island.
When it comes to the Pharmaceutical Department, for example, Caymanoutdoes North America, according to Canadian David Pellow, Pharmacist/ Manager. The full-service pharmacy, he explains, dispenses notonly for the hospital's out-patients as well as those in residence,but for over-the-counter medications for the local populace, aswell.
Upon coming to Cayman from his practise in Toronto, he found hisnew challenge required researching and re-education on certainproducts, "because Cayman is so dynamic you can order anyproduct throughout the world", whereas in Canada, for example,only those limited products approved by the Canadian governmentwould be available, while in Cayman, medications come from theUK ("which sources for products all over Europe for us"),the US, Canada, Barbados, Jamaica and El Salvador, for example,as the medical staff in Cayman is from all over the world.
In the Birthing Centre, mothers-to-be are given a room which willremain their's throughout their hospital confinement - labour,delivery and recovery. The rooms throughout the hospital, bothprivate and semi-private rooms, are large, bright and cheerful,providing all the necessary medical accessories, while largelyretaining a home-like feel. In fact, says Dr. Tomlinson, citingthe fact the meals are served on real china with a flower in avase, "our patients tell us they feel more like a guest ata resort, than being in a hospital."
Actually, the new world-class medical facility began taking inpeople, on an in- and out-patient basis, in mid-March, and hasbeen seeing between 80 and 100 patients a day since opening. Injust the second week of April, the hospital saw some 72 individualsas day-surgery patients. And this, points out Dr. Tomlinson, isan important aspect of the hospital's approach to making qualitymedical care available, while keeping it affordable.
First of all, by having such sophisticated diagnostic equipmenton-island, patients do not have to leave the island, and, secondly,by treating patients on an out-patient basis, a viable alternativefor many types of treatments (for example, biopsies and minorsurgeries such as circumcisions, or lumpectomies) may be donein-hospital on an out-patient basis, avoiding admitting the patientcare and, thereby, substantially reducing costs.
For, despite all the state-of-the-art technology and modern equipmentnecessary for a world-class medical institution, it is the small,personal nature of the facility which makes it a comfortable andnurturing environment for those in need of care and attention.The cafeteria, for example, is open to the public, or visitingfamily members, and some locals have already made it a part oftheir morning routine, before coming in for physiotherapy treatments.
This personalised, caring attitude is further illustrated in thehospital's policy of allowing family members to stay overnightwith the patient, for example, a husband may wish to spend thenight with his wife and newborn child, or a parent to stay tocomfort a hospitalised youngster who may be apprehensive.
The Hospital's Mission Statement, prominently displayed in thefoyer, succinctly sums it up:
"With wisdom, knowledge and commitment to our Christian heritage,our mission is to promote the health and well-being of all whomwe serve through a comprehensive continuum of services providedin collaboration with all who share the same vision and values.
"We are committed to providing highly specialized, affordablemedical care to all patients in a compassionate, nurturing environmentdedicated to contributing and promulgating the ever-expandingfield of medical knowledge."