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Hospital’s ‘cutting edge’ growth set to enhance medical tourism

Rendering for the new expansion to the Lyford Cay hospital

Rendering for the new expansion to the Lyford Cay hospital

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

No objections were raised at Monday night’s public consultation to Lyford Cay Hospital’s proposed expansion through the addition of services “that are a bit more cutting edge”.

Conway Smith, architect at Alexiou and Associates, told the Town Planning Committee meeting that the hospital is seeking to implement urgent care facilities as part of its expansion.

“What primarily Dr Dean [Tseretopoulos] is looking to do is upgrade the services that are currently provided, as well as provide some additional services that are a bit more cutting edge and just to remain on top of the industry,” he explained.

“And so in addition to some of the things like radiology, CT scanning, they also have an urgent care facility, which I believe will be the most western urgent care facility on the island, and so he’s looking to make sure that people in the west have access to urgent care if that is needed.”

Mr Smith said construction is estimated to take between 14 to 16 months, and the project will be open to bids for construction once the necessary approvals are secured. “Construction will probably be about 14 to 16 months,” he added.

“Currently, this is one of the initial stages in the development to get planning approval. So, just developing all of the plans and approvals will probably take another ten months. And I think, shortly after that, the project will be in a position where it can go to the market for bidding and then into construction”

Dr Dean Tseretopoulos, a cardiologist, previously told Tribune Business that the expansion will include an urgent care centre, a catheterisation lab, as well as an electrophysiology lab, which will be “unique” to the Caribbean and The Bahamas.

“Currently there is a limited catheterisation laboratory being offered at Bahamas Health Centre. Doctors Hospital’s catheterisation is down, but they’ll be up and running soon. In essence, that would be a third catheterisation lab for treating heart attacks and strokes,” he said.

Dr Tseretopoulos said Lyford Cay Hospital plans to introduce a Wellness and Longevity Centre on-site, taking advantage of new legislation to provide innovative treatments to patients. He added that the centre will be used to improve the general well-being of patients as well as aid in obtaining early diagnosis, and the treatment, of advanced diseases.

“We have a large plan for a Wellness and Longevity Centre, which is in the planning stages, which will take advantage of some of the new legislation that’s been passed in terms of those kinds of innovative treatments, as well as just general wellness and proactive treatments for patients,” said Dr Tseretopoulos.

“We’re trying to get patients diagnosed before illness, as well as treating people with advanced diseases through the Wellness Centre.”

Mr Smith told Monday night’s meeting that the Wellness and Longevity Centre will help boost medical tourism by offering treatments in a “very unique and clandestine destination”.

“If you think about medical tourism, I think it’s another avenue to bolster our tourist product, because now you’d have these types of procedures being offered in a very unique and clandestine destination,” he said.

Documents obtained from the Department of Physical Planning reveal a proposal to develop 3.249 acres for a two–storey medical facility with provisions for multiple examination rooms, physical therapy rooms, urgent care, X-ray and MRI imaging and a pharmacy. The proposal also includes 143 parking spaces and green and outdoor spaces to be located around the site.

Comments

bahamianson 3 months, 1 week ago

Cutring edge growth and you cant keep the electricity on. You cant get the AC right , and the mold takes over. Cutting edge and there is a nurse shortage. Always the cart is before the horse. Cutring edge and the wifi cant stay stable. Hemce, cant do any banking on line. Co.puters are always down. Have you been in Super Value on a Sunday when the computers are down or the wifi doesnt connect to the bank? Man , listen stop talking foolishness and fix the disgusting Bay Street Road. Do politicians have no shame? Bay Street is a disgrace. Fix that ugly, disgusting road. I am ashamed !!!

Dawes 3 months, 1 week ago

Whilst i agree with all the issues you mention and the need to fix, this is a private company so not for the government to build

Cobalt 3 months, 1 week ago

@bahamianson LOL. I was just thinking the same thing! LOL. Most healthcare facilities equipped with “cutting edge” diagnostic equipment rely on a dependable electrical grid, not to mention sophisticated software. Our country couldn’t even operate distance computerized learning during the pandemic nor extinguish a dump fire a few years back. There is NOTHING “cutting-edge” in the Bahamas except murder, corruption, and poverty. Furthermore, an Urgent Care facility equipped with minimally invasive procedures such as an Angiogtam or an Angioplasty is not considered cutting-edge. They are actually pretty standard forms of secondary and tertiary treatment.

But what makes me laugh is the “medical tourism” claim!! Can you imagine a tourist coming to the Bahamas for cardiac intervention??? A country that doesn’t even have adequate crash-carts or ventilators available??? Who would sign that consent form??? What are the laws regarding negligence, causation, foreseeability, damages and malpractice??? What happens in the case of a law suit, and who will conduct the hearing??? Do we even have a Board of Medicine that regulates proper medical practices?? And if so, when was the last public hearing??? BOL. This is nothing more than a group of doctors seeking to enhance their riches by baiting ignorant unsuspecting travelers into waisting their time and money.

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