Welcome to
the Cayman Islands National Healthcare Conference.
Thank
you to all of our speakers, sponsors, panelists, planning committee
and delegates for making this 3rd annual Healthcare 20/20 Conference
a huge success.
A
message from the Cayman Islands Minister of Health
Let
me extend a warm welcome to our friends, colleagues, distinguished
speakers, sponsors and guests, everyone participating in this, the
Cayman Islands third annual Healthcare 20/20 conference.
This
year’s theme is “Patient-Centred Care: Achieving Quality Outcomes”.
Like the last two conferences, this 2012 gathering reflects trends
in global thinking, and relies on our own experiences locally.
Speaking to that experience, I will note that 85% of respondents to
a recent survey by our Health Services Authority rated their quality
of service as good or excellent. It will not elude you, however, that
85% is still less than perfect. Accepting that perfection is difficult
to achieve, we are nonetheless working to close that gap.
We are also cognisant that planning for Cayman’s medical system –
and this conference – also involves a number of long-standing private-sector
partners: the superb Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, a range
of doctor-operated and medical-group surgeries, as well as numerous
clinics, consultancies, dental, optical and general practices.
Not least among these is our exciting newcomer, Dr Devi Shetty and
his Narayana medical college and complex, due to open this time next
year in East End, promising an enormous boost to the local availability
of tertiary care.
Like every nation, the Cayman Islands grapples with issues of escalating
demands, rising costs, changing insurance imperatives, and the most
efficient and effective delivery of care to patients.
Additionally, placing patients at the centre of all aspects of healthcare
involves not just concepts of evidence-based medicine, but also a
range of governance issues including leadership and organisational
structures.
At its heart, patient-centred care relies on the familiar idea that
holistic treatment is likely to produce longer-lasting results than
a single-minded focus on manifest symptoms.
Patients deserve quick access to reliable diagnoses and prognoses;
they deserve clear information and consultation on medical decisions
and effective treatment delivered by trusted staff. They deserve a
safe environment; empathy and emotional support; involvement of family
and friends; and, last not least, continuity of care and smooth transitions.
Finally, let me thank every speaker and every sponsor, whether from
the nearby region or from far away, traveling long and at some expense
to offer an international perspective. I am grateful for your knowledge
and experience, and for the support that enables us to offer this
event at no cost to delegates. Our hope is that this event makes it
possible to create a more resilient healthcare system for everyone.
Sincerely,
Hon. Mark Scotland, JP
Minister of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture |
|
2012 News
20/20
Healthcare Conference to discuss how patients can be better informed
Press
Release , 4 October, 2012
Click here for more information
HSA
continues strong support for healthcare conference
CayCompass.com,
4 October, 2012
Click
here for more information
Check our News Page for more stories. |
