Business View Caribbean | March 2019

21 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN MARCH 2019 Audiology, Emergency, Hemodialysis, Infection & Prevention Control, Laboratory Services, Medical Imaging, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Social Services, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatric Care. The BVIHSA is managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister for Health and Social Development and is administered by its CEO, Dr. Ronald Georges. When Dr. Georges came onboard, last year, he inherited a full slate of ongoing agenda items. Among them, accreditation for the Territory’s healthcare system and the promotion of medical tourism in the BVI. “The hurricanes caused a lot of delays and issues,” says Dr. Georges. “Those items are still high on the agenda, but at this point, we have to deal with the aftermath, and the rebuilding and recovery at the same time, which is particularly challenging.” Due to the storms, the first review for accreditation was delayed. Hopefully the first assessment will take place later this year. The Authority is seeking accreditation through DNV (Det Norske Veritas), but there is much work ahead to get back on track with the process. Medical tourism is still on the agenda, and is predicated on obtaining accreditation and having an efficient organization. There has been some discussion with The Atlantic Clinic (TAC) and they have done some pre-work with regards to medical tourism, but being accredited is critical, because that will allow U.S.-based, third-party payers to pay for services rendered in the BVI. Once accreditation is obtained, the BVIHSA will be in a better position to attract additional medical tourism services providers. Reflecting on the hurricane aftermath, Dr. Georges explains, “What the storms really showed us was the need for proper disaster resilience and mitigation, and proper planning and the exercising of those plans to deal with small, medium, and large-scale disasters. After Irma, the seat of government had to move from the Central Administration Complex into the hospital because the hospital is actually THE BR I T I SH V I RGIN I SLANDS HEALTH SERV I CES AUTHOR I TY