For more than three decades, the unique community of Bermuda has held a special place in our hearts at Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI). (You can read more about how we care for Bermudian patients and our on-the-ground efforts to provide information on the latest health advances.)
Earlier this month we started a new agreement that gives us a significant opportunity to expand our efforts on the island. We’re honored that the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) selected us — among several strong competitors — for an affiliate agreement to help improve and support clinical services and medical education.
BHB runs the only acute care hospital on the island, which is home to 65,000 residents. A goal we share in this affiliation is to increase subspecialty care — particularly in stroke and rehabilitation services. The board’s main hospital is seeing as many as five stroke patients every week, and we want to give them the best odds for a full recovery. We will support BHB staff with education and training and, together, our goal is to establish a primary stroke center that will earn accreditation by the Joint Commission International by 2021.
Our experts will also work with their Bermudian colleagues to ensure patients there receive high-quality psychiatric care.
To accomplish these goals, our doctors will complete four-week rotations in Bermuda to perform short-term clinical and quality improvement projects.
Another key aspect our agreement will be helping to build up Bermuda’s pipeline of physicians, nurses and other caregivers. We’ll be providing essential education and training to support for BHB’s staff members — for clinicians and administrators, for seasoned physicians and those in the early stages of their careers. Our plan is to offer continuing medical education opportunities to practicing physicians and learning opportunities to aspiring medical students and nurses.
BHB’s vision promises “Exceptional Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community.” I am confident that we at Johns Hopkins can share our experience as a leading teaching hospital to help BHB make this vision a reality.
