CAYMAN
ISLANDS (April 8, 2020) –
Harnessing the power of the internet to deliver medical care in this
time of social distancing, Health City Cayman Islands is now offering
virtual specialist consultations via telemedicine as part of the
hospital’s outpatient services, in addition to accepting all local
emergency cases. The expanded services bring the hospital to the
second phase of its reopening amidst the Cayman Islands’ COVID-19
public health crisis.

The new telemedicine
service, which has been commonplace for the tertiary care hospital’s
international patients since its inception in 2014, is now being
offered to local patients during a time when the Cayman Islands are
under a strict “shelter in place” order otherwise known as a
“soft curfew” imposed by the Cayman Islands Government.

Clinical Director
Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil noted that the hospital is keen to support
the government’s efforts to have people stay at home as much as
possible, while also delivering the specialized tertiary medical care
that the hospital has become known for.

“We are open now
for all emergencies, including walk-ins, after initially reopening on
March 27 for emergency and critical care referrals only. We are very
are glad to be back to handling emergency cases and fulfilling our
mission of saving lives and offering critical care and life support
to the Islands’ patients in the direst need of care. As the Cayman
Islands’ sole tertiary medical care facility, this is a vital
component of our hospital operations in order to support the local
health care system. However, we understand that all of our patients
need medical attention – even as the Islands and the world adjusts
to the new reality that COVID-19 has placed us in. Providing virtual
consultation via telemedicine allows us to provide ongoing medical
care to our existing patients, without forcing them to leave their
homes.”

A telemedicine trial
of the virtual consultations began on April 1, and involved providing
ongoing care to existing patients in a limited number of medical
specialties. With the trial being successful, Health City has moved
forward to offering virtual consultations in the full range of the
hospital’s medical specialties and is providing the service to both
new and existing patients.

Director of Business
Development Shomari Scott advised that Heath City would continue to
seek innovative ways to serve the community during the COVID-19
pandemic.

He said, “We are
living in a new COVID-19 world and need to adjust to our altered
reality. The truth is, we do not know when this crisis will be over.
However, regardless of whatever else is going on in the world, people
don’t stop getting sick or needing medical attention. We are here
for our patients as always and now it’s time to embrace the virtual
and technology that has been touted for many years as the future of
medicine. COVID-19 has fast forwarded the acceptance of these
practices and we are pleased to be able to offer this service moving
forward.”

Virtual
consultations will be provided via telephone call or WhatsApp video
call from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 1pm, however
exceptions are made based on the need and urgency of the patient. To
schedule an appointment, patients can either email
teleconsult@healthcity.ky
or call the hospital on 640-4040. An insurance approval process has
been developed for the telemedicine consultations, and all insurance
approvals will be secured by Health City staff.

This new development
is the second phase of the hospital’s reopening process. The first
phase began on Friday, March 27 with the reinstatement of emergency
and critical care referrals.

To further suppress
the spread of COVID-19, one wing of the hospital has been physically
segregated and assigned exclusively only for the isolation of
suspected or COVID-19 positive patients. Another wing of the
hospital will be used only for newly admitted emergency patients. The
newly admitted emergency patients will not have any contact with the
existing patients of the hospital or the staff taking care of them.
The staff taking care of the new emergency admissions are also
physically segregated from those staff members taking care of the
existing patients.

In addition to the virtual consultations and acceptance of emergency
referral patients, the Outpatient Pharmacy continues to operate at
Health City in order to facilitate prescription refills and renewals.
Patients seeking refills and renewals of existing prescriptions may
email pharmacy@healthcity.ky
for assistance.

About
Health City Cayman Islands

Health
City Cayman Islands, the vision of renowned heart surgeon and
humanitarian Dr. Devi Shetty, is supported by Narayana Health, one of
India’s largest private healthcare systems. Health City, only the
second hospital in the Caribbean to receive the Joint Commission
International's "hospital accreditation", provides
compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare services in a
world-class, comfortable, patient-centered environment. Offering
healthcare to local, regional and international patients, Health City
Cayman Islands delivers excellence in adult and pediatric cardiology,
cardiac surgery, cardiac electrophysiology, medical oncology,
orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatric endocrinology,
gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreato-biliary and bariatric surgery,
neurology, interventional neurology and neuro-diagnostics,
neurosurgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, gynecology, urology,
pediatric allergies, colorectal surgery, dental, sleep lab and
pulmonology services.

For
further information, visit www.healthcitycaymanislands.com.