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42 43 SMMC Facilities Manager, Erika van der Horst, adds, “Our education department also gives other opportunities, like to the White and Yellow Cross and Mental Health Founda- tions. Their staff can participate in our train- ing programs, so it is not only for SMMC, but all the healthcare groups on the island.” “Medical Tourism” is not a major focus of SMMC–yet; but it’s certainly on the ra- dar. More and more tourists are looking at combining a trip to St. Maarten with having healthcare provided to them in a “holiday environment.” Van der Horst gives an exam- ple: “Dialysis patients need treatment three times a week. If they travel here on a cruise ship through the cruise ship terminal, then it’s possible they can come to our facility for treatment. The same applies to people with a timeshare, who come for a week or two, or sometimes a few months.” Other places such as the Cayman Islands have huge clinics set up for medical tourism, but SMMC is still exploring whether it’s some- thing they want to develop more, given the limitations with the present facility. During the hospital’s 26-year history, the popula- tion on St. Maarten doubled. Yet the original SMMC building remained the same size as when it started. The great news is a won- derful new hospital facility is in the works to SINT MAARTEN MEDICAL CENTER address the challenges. Van der Horst reports, “For the last eight or nine years, we’ve had a development plan. Initially, it was an ex- pansion to the existing facility, but a couple of years ago, we decided to build a complete new hospital.We’re in the preliminary design phase now, then the final design, after which construction can start.” Finance for this exciting new Medical Center is expected to be in place in October 2017. Construction will occur in two phases. First, the building of a four-floor hospital directly adjacent to the existing facility, and slightly larger in size. Then, demolishing the current facility and adding an additional wing in its place to accommodate future growth. Phase One is expected to be operational in January 2020, followed by one year for demolition and construction of the new wing. But SMMC doesn’t want to wait for completion to offer new specialties. They are planning to start ex- panding during the upcoming transition years with at least four new specialties. As with any business, partnerships and relationships are essential. Van Putten ac- knowledges, “We work very closely with Free University Medical Centre in Holland. Also, the Amsterdam Medical Center –we partner with them to make sure we are up to date with information, so we can share knowledge, and