More stringent regulatory inspections and corrective actions must be enforced for hospitals

Your article, ‘Ministry defends need for Level 5 hospital in New Amsterdam’, Stabroek News, January 14, 2024, and the Stabroek News editorial of January 11, 2024 refer. Please allow me to join the debate on healthcare facilities construction in Guyana. I do so in my capacity as a retired Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the states of New York and New Jersey, a former professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, a former member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers, and a retired Facilities Director/Manager in the healthcare field.

In the States of New York and New Jersey, healthcare institutions operate under the aegis of regulatory bodies of the respective States and the principal standards organization—The Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Each aspect of the healthcare institution’s written and approved policies and procedures is subject to periodic review for compliance. Among the areas for policies and procedures review and inspection are those of administration, medical, nursing, clinical, and facilities. Some departments under facilities are engineering, general maintenance, beds, life safety, patient call systems, emergency generators, boilers, water and sewer, housekeeping, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, electrical, security, grounds etc. Failure on inspections in any one area can lead to serious reprimand, demand for correction, suspension of licence, and even closure of the institution.

Editor, the foregoing sets the stage for my assessment of the need for new healthcare facilities construction. Over the years, from visits to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and the National Psychiatric Center, NA, l assessed that their facilities programmes appeared to be very limited and there was dire need for improvements. Lack of maintenance was readily observed. There were a number of unfavourable press reports about these hospitals. The deficiencies numerated by the Ministry of Health are real. There are no simple corrective actions. Hence, my support for the new facilities construction. However, more stringent regulatory inspections and corrective actions must be enforced. For similar reasons I suggested a couple years ago, in a letter to the press that, our flagship public hospital- the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporationbe relocated and rebuilt. Due recognition must be given to independent regulatory body/bodies, knowledgeable in healthcare construction, operation, and upkeep. Improvement in facilities management will be a major requirement. Of equal importance is the investment and improvement in administration, medical, nursing, clinical and other support services. The institutions’ Environment, Health & Safety Committees must be active and given the rightful place and authority to enforce the policies, procedures, and corrective actions. The role the Ministry of Health as a self-regulator must be reviewed. An experienced Healthcare Asset Management Company should be recruited to advise the Ministry of Health in areas of budgeting, staffing, and implementing viable policies and procedures. This is an appropriate time to correct the many deficiencies in healthcare. Let us invest wisely now in healthcare, especially as we envisage Guyana to be a destination for healthcare tourism.