NASSAU, The Bahamas — The inclusion of the brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the construction of the country’s first state-of-the-art Critical Care Block is expected to help The Bahamas “make a quantum leap forward” with respect to intensive care medicine for infants and other critical care patients regardless of age, status or income.
The newly constructed NICU is the first and only Level Three Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit in The Bahamas.
Minister of Health the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez, addressing the Commissioning Ceremony of the new Critical Care Block of Princess Margaret Hospital, January 22, said the construction of the Critical Care Block provides The Bahamas with the most modern, best-equipped healthcare facility in the region.
Constructed on the grounds of the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Block represents an investment of more than 100 million dollars.
“For the last two decades, The Bahamas has been a regional leader in neonatal intensive care and with the opening of this Critical Care Block, we are taking a quantum leap forward with respect to intensive care medicine not only for infants, but for every critical care patient no matter his or her age, status or income,” Dr. Gomez said.
“As Minister of Health, as a physician, as a veteran of this very institution, I take tremendous pride and great pleasure in welcoming the Bahamian people to the most modern, best equipped healthcare facility in the region.”
Dr. Gomez said the 402-bed facility (29 beds for adults, 62 pediatric beds, 47 neonatal births and 200 cots/cribs) boasts state-of-the-art surgical suites, modern Intensive Care technologies and procedures, in addition to the “brand new” Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and represents the culmination of a long journey.
“The Princes Margaret Hospital, as an institution, plays an integral role in the lives of all Bahamians and today we usher in a new era in the life of this iconic hospital,” Dr. Gomez said. “Every year, tens of thousands of patients take advantage of more than 70 medical and surgical specialties offered by the Princess Margaret Hospital, making this the largest (and) busiest healthcare facility in The Bahamas.
“Moreover, not only are more and more persons seeking treatment and being admitted to the hospital, (but) the average length of hospitalizations have gradually been increasing from just under six days in the 1990s to up to eight days in some cases over the past four years, increasing the demand on the hospital for additional beds for new admissions.”
Dr. Gomez said in the face of public demand for increased services, the hospital has had to “change and grow over the years.”
“Today, we celebrate the latest incarnation of growth and progress. This Critical Care Block provides an opportunity for us to positively impact the length of stay by an overall reduction. In the coming weeks, the full impact of this facility will begin to be felt not only by the patients and the clinical staff, but also by the public as well. I take this opportunity to commend all of those involved in this vital undertaking which will positively impact the staff and the end users, the Bahamian people,” Dr. Gomez said.
Construction of the Critical Care Block began in November 2011 and involved a 66,000 square-foot addition to the original Princess Margaret Hospital structure, which spanned three levels.
In addition to housing the country’s first and only Level Three Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, the Critical Care Block also boasts medical teleconferencing and teaching capabilities, advanced software applications for monitoring patients and equipment, solar-powered exterior lighting and a water recycling system for the irrigation systems of the Critical Care Block. The hospital’s administrative offices are also located in the new Block.
The facility also boasts a Central Sterile Supplies Department, Medical Surgical Supplies Department, Core Laboratory, Meditation Area and Healing Garden, Food Court and a new front entry/reception for the Princess Margaret Hospital.
“It is my hope that every Bahamian will come to feel in the days, weeks and months ahead, the same degree of pride in our accomplishment as I feel today,” Dr. Gomez added.
NASSAU, The Bahamas — The inclusion of the brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the construction of the country’s first state-of-the-art Critical Care Block is expected to help The Bahamas “make a quantum leap forward” with respect to intensive care medicine for infants and other critical care patients regardless of age, status or income.
The newly constructed NICU is the first and only Level Three Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit in The Bahamas.
Minister of Health the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez, addressing the Commissioning Ceremony of the new Critical Care Block of Princess Margaret Hospital, January 22, said the construction of the Critical Care Block provides The Bahamas with the most modern, best-equipped healthcare facility in the region.
Constructed on the grounds of the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Block represents an investment of more than 100 million dollars.
“For the last two decades, The Bahamas has been a regional leader in neonatal intensive care and with the opening of this Critical Care Block, we are taking a quantum leap forward with respect to intensive care medicine not only for infants, but for every critical care patient no matter his or her age, status or income,” Dr. Gomez said.
“As Minister of Health, as a physician, as a veteran of this very institution, I take tremendous pride and great pleasure in welcoming the Bahamian people to the most modern, best equipped healthcare facility in the region.”
Dr. Gomez said the 402-bed facility (29 beds for adults, 62 pediatric beds, 47 neonatal births and 200 cots/cribs) boasts state-of-the-art surgical suites, modern Intensive Care technologies and procedures, in addition to the “brand new” Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and represents the culmination of a long journey.
“The Princes Margaret Hospital, as an institution, plays an integral role in the lives of all Bahamians and today we usher in a new era in the life of this iconic hospital,” Dr. Gomez said. “Every year, tens of thousands of patients take advantage of more than 70 medical and surgical specialties offered by the Princess Margaret Hospital, making this the largest (and) busiest healthcare facility in The Bahamas.
“Moreover, not only are more and more persons seeking treatment and being admitted to the hospital, (but) the average length of hospitalizations have gradually been increasing from just under six days in the 1990s to up to eight days in some cases over the past four years, increasing the demand on the hospital for additional beds for new admissions.”
Dr. Gomez said in the face of public demand for increased services, the hospital has had to “change and grow over the years.”
“Today, we celebrate the latest incarnation of growth and progress. This Critical Care Block provides an opportunity for us to positively impact the length of stay by an overall reduction. In the coming weeks, the full impact of this facility will begin to be felt not only by the patients and the clinical staff, but also by the public as well. I take this opportunity to commend all of those involved in this vital undertaking which will positively impact the staff and the end users, the Bahamian people,” Dr. Gomez said.
Construction of the Critical Care Block began in November 2011 and involved a 66,000 square-foot addition to the original Princess Margaret Hospital structure, which spanned three levels.
In addition to housing the country’s first and only Level Three Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, the Critical Care Block also boasts medical teleconferencing and teaching capabilities, advanced software applications for monitoring patients and equipment, solar-powered exterior lighting and a water recycling system for the irrigation systems of the Critical Care Block. The hospital’s administrative offices are also located in the new Block.
The facility also boasts a Central Sterile Supplies Department, Medical Surgical Supplies Department, Core Laboratory, Meditation Area and Healing Garden, Food Court and a new front entry/reception for the Princess Margaret Hospital.
“It is my hope that every Bahamian will come to feel in the days, weeks and months ahead, the same degree of pride in our accomplishment as I feel today,” Dr. Gomez added.
PM Christie on the Commissioning of PMH Critical Care Block
