Better use of data needed

EXECUTIVE Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland says there is no shortage of data being collected daily at the Martindale’s Road institution, however that data is not being put to good use.

Her comments came on Wednesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Barbados through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus and the QEH, reaffirming and strengthening the commitment of the entities.

Bynoe-Sutherland while emphasising the close relationship with the UWI, also highlighted discussions being held with Director of the Chronic Disease Research Centre Dr. Simon Anderson on how the entities can collaborate by utilising the data collected.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has tons of data as you know. We collect data every single day. But data is not effectively used for decision-making and it is certainly not used to influence how we measure our performance. So we know that the Chronic Disease Research Centre... this is their area of expertise.”

She explained that the hospital is in need of documented clinical protocols and documented Standard Operating Procedures. “So that for basic areas of medicine you know what to do and it is really not so much dependenton the measure of individual expertise.”

“So we are really looking at how we can strengthen our operation by having a set of procedures well documented that we know where people go how beds are utilised. We are going to be looking at deepening our collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine to really begin to document and put some of these strategies in place,” the executive chairman assured.

She noted that Dr. Anderson of the CDRC is seeking to upgrade and build out and modernise approaches to stroke registries and the QEH will be benefiting from this information. This she noted will ultimately improve patient delivery in very practical and tangible ways. “We look forward to having those very concrete discussions so that we could in real time appreciate what is happening at the hospital, at least use that information more effectively.”

“We also recognise as we look to improve patient care that the Faculty of Medicine is very much integrated and the delivery of services at the hospital. And although we know they are a part of the firm, they are delivering services they are teaching students we think there are other opportunities to deepen the collaboration.”

The executive chairman while acknowledging the significance of the MOU, also told those in attendance that Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor of the UWI is critical member of the Board of Directors of the QEH, highlighting her experience with dealing with complex and complicated institutions such as the UWI and assured the Board will be benefitting from her expertise at the hospital. (JH)