A delegation of Belizean physician and nurse leaders from Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City visited the Medical College of Wisconsin June 26-29, 2011. The group included KHMH CEO, Egbert Grinage (Pediatrics), Marta Habet (Emergency Medicine) and nurses Sister Shirlee Samuels (Emergency Medicine) and Sister Kereen Birch (Pediatrics). Hosted by the MCW department of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics Global Health Program and the Global Health Program the team had an intense opportunity to observe team-based patient care at our affiliate hospitals. The goal of this trip was to further a plan to address healthcare system improvement by addressing injury prevention, strengthening emergency care and disaster preparedness, improving pediatric acute and critical care, and enhancing the education of medical providers in Belize. The objectives of the visit were to: 1) Conduct observations of Froedtert and Children’s hospitals’ team-based practice to enhance this knowledge of physician-nurse partnerships in clinical care and 2) Participate in educational, state-of-the-art simulation activities, information exchanges with medical and nursing leadership. During their time on campus they benefited from a wide range of the meetings and discussions held with leaders of our College and hospital affiliates as well as area community hospitals as Columbia St. Mary’s and Elm Brook Memorial. Meetings with medical and nursing leadership were a priority of this visit that will help to strengthen our collaborative plan and fortify our partnership. Each delegate reported on what changes they will be making upon return to Belize. Their responses highlight the importance of traveling as a team, exposure to a different healthcare delivery system and observing innovative techniques to educate healthcare professionals. Their heightened desire to implement changes at KHMH are illustrated by an interest in educating administrators and staff about conflict resolution strategies and approaches, developing and implementing team-based approach in Pediatrics and A&E and collaborating on issues that affect the patients and operations of treatment. The visit was certainly an exciting opportunity as our partnership to advance emergency care in Belize develops. This visit was made possible by a generous support from the Wagner Family Foundation, LLC. We are also pleased to receive local coverage of this delegation’s visit by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read Article Pictured above: Left to right: KHMH CEO, Sister Shirlee Samuels, Dr. Marta Habet, Dr. Egbert Grinage, Sister Kereen Birch (top).
MCW faculty presented at the Belize National Medical and Dental Congress in October 2010, the focus was on pediatric and adult trauma and disaster medicine and management. A training course provided by Drs. Nicole St Clair, Jackie Nohl, and Stephen Hargarten under the theme new heights in emergency management provided nationwide training to Belizean nurses and physicians. An article about this coverage can be found here.