“Puerto Rico can become a hub for Latin America, other islands in the Caribbean and even for Europe”
PLEASE TELL OUR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF ATLANTIS:
I came to Puerto Rico at the beginning of 2013, and the same year I was asked to be the Atlantis Health Care Group CEO. I have a Doctoral Degree in Nursing Research from the University of San Diego, focused on the management of chronic disease patients and associated complications. My master’s degree is in Nursing focused on leadership administration. I have been a registered nurse in health care executive operations for over 28 years.
I was born and raised in Hawaii, so I’m very experienced in working with underserved populations and understanding how family dynamics, traditions, culture and ethnicity play a role in individual and community health
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC, PRIOR TO THE VACCINATION PROCESS, AFFECTED THE ECONOMY OF PUERTO RICO AND ESPECIALLY THE HEALTH SYSTEM?
The economy was definitely impacted just like everywhere on the mainland US. However, with dialysis clinics we were also affected in the sense that our patients were afraid of COVID-19.
We anticipated the need for reassessing CKD patients, to be re-prioritized from a secondary to a primal tier, understanding that staff caring for these patients who are considered “at risk” be provided immediate and early access to the COVID 19 vaccine during the height of the pandemic. We were very fortunate that Puerto Rico was the first jurisdiction in the entire nation that acknowledged the level of urgency and elevated the risk level of CKD to group A-1 of the COVID-19 management plan in the Department of Health.
During the pandemic patients were concerned and anxious in coming to the units to receive their treatments. The company and our dialysis units went through a lot of effort in getting education and training out, in implementing infection control programs and in communicating to our patients the importance to maintain their treatments and the safety control measures implemented to ensure their wellbeing while at the unit. The patients listened and made sure that they receive their vaccines, helping them minimize the risk of infections if exposed to regular uncontrolled environments. Atlantis was the first CKD program on the island designated as a COVID-19 vaccine center.
Atlantis Health Care Group was founded in 2000, 21 years ago, specialized at the beginning in kidney failure treatments. Atlantis is owned by ICV Partners, a minority owned private equity firm headquartered in Miami, FL that focuses on investment opportunities in the business services, consumer, food, and healthcare industries.
Atlantis Health Care Group was founded in 2000, 21 years ago, specialized at the beginning in kidney failure treatments.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR SERVICES AND TREATMENTS.
Patient-centric care focused on cultural competence, traditions, and family values has always been the foundation of our program. The implementation of sound, best practices are base to our comprehensive renal program, providing care that ranges from an upstream chronic kidney disease (CKD) management program to an endstage kidney l disease (ESKD) service line.
Puerto Rico has one of the highest prevalence rates of people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity which are leading precursors of CKD. Nearly 50% more cases of ESKD due to Type 2 Diabetes in Puerto Rico vs. the continental United States.
Our Chronic Disease Management Program developed on a sound evidence- based preventive program approach to delay the progression of CKD to ESRD, identifies patients with CKD or at risk for CKD, with the most common comorbidities, such as Pre-Diabetic, Diabetic, Heart Diseases.
We also have a state-of-the-art educational program that has three training programs, one of which is directed on reverse osmosis water safety, where we work with communities, providers, staff and our patients to teach them the significance of water safety in receiving dialysis. Also, we serve as a main training center and education of nurses, patients, and our collaborative partners on CKD and ESRD
Instead of one happy moment it is a continuance of happiness when I talk to the patients and see how they are doing, and if they are happy, the family is happy. Dialysis units are second homes to the dialysis patients and dialysis staff are their extended family. Dialysis treatments are the lifeline for kidney failure patients. As such, all patients are treated with dignity, respect, and compassionate care.
In terms of what was the most challenging moment, I believe it was after the two consecutive hurricanes, Irma and María, impacted Puerto Rico in 2017. We had to immediately restructure and account for our patients, making sure that they were safe and had the means to get to the unit for their care. Our patients were afraid of not having their dialysis treatment. We were able to work quickly with the federal and our local government, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid, and the State Department. They were excellent in providing waivers so that patients could go to any dialysis unit. Many of our units were up within 24 hours after hurricane impact and continued to operate nonstop for 24 hours as needed. We learned and became much stronger in working with our patients and agencies supporting dialysis programs.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL TOURISM THAT PUERTO RICO IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING. HOW DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY IN THE COMING YEARS?
Puerto Rico has reopened to tourism, and is very close to the east side of the US, and it’s such a beautiful place visit. From a medical standpoint, these patients can travel on a plane and coordinate services with another dialysis program in Puerto Rico. Our dialysis units are located throughout the island, and even for home therapy, we´ve got nephrologists and trained nurses.
We have patients that have come prior to COVID for years, receiving treatments with us for two to three months just for their vacation away from the mainland during the winter. So, we are expecting that this is going to continue now as the COVID situation is getting better, restrictions are lifted, and people are getting vaccinated.
AS CHIEF COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY OFFICER OF THE AMERICAN DIALYSIS HOLDING INSTITUTION, HOW DO YOU TRANSMIT THAT EXPERTISE TO YOUR SERVICES?
Dialysis units are subjected to a complex and highly regulated certification process. The guidelines are strict and there are mandated and operational procedures that dialysis centers are required to meet. From that standpoint I always make sure that we comply with all government requirements, licensing and certification inspections and ensuring that our patients are receiving the best services.
IN TERMS OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, PUERTO HAS BEEN HIT IN RECENTYEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC, ECONOMIC CRISIS, NATURAL DISASTERS, HOW DO YOU GAIN THAT CONFIDENCE AND TRUST THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR.
When you work with patients and agencies such as the dialysis sector which is highly regulated, you develop relationships with your peers and government.
Keeping them apprised of how you are doing, and more so, how can the organization continue to support their national healthcare and local initiatives, listening to their concerns and addressing their needs is equally important. All this helps to build high levels of credibility and trust.
IN YOUR YEARS IN ATLANTIS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR HAPPIEST MOMENT OR THE MOST CHALLENGING AND ALSO TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE MOMENT YOU FELT MOST DISAPPOINTED WITH.
HOW WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMPANY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN TERMS OF RECEIVING MORE INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS AND PATIENTS; GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION, MAYBE FOREIGN PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND IN CENTRAL AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA OR THE US.
Puerto Rico is a US Commonwealth. That alone is very attractive for many to want to visit our island. We can become a travel vacation destination site and healthcare hub for Latin America, other islands in the Caribbean and even for Europe. A patient receiving dialysis here in Puerto Rico can receive the same rendering services in other parts of the world.
A FINAL MESSAGE TO OUR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM ABOUT PUERTO RICO AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT ATLANTIS, IF THEY ARE LOOKING DIFFERENT CHOICES IN THIS SECTOR.
Come to Puerto Rico, it is a beautiful island with very welcoming people, rich culture, and you can receive medical services here. We have excellent nephrologists, and great state of the art dialysis programs. Atlantis program is located island wide, and we can serve as a vacation destination and your second home if you are on renal replacement therapy. You can always look on our website and reach out to us for more information. Dialysis services can be coordinated through our Central Admissions Office.