Topic: Health Services Authority
CarePay trial: AIS contract was 'not going to be stopped,' says ex-medical chief
The former medical director of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority said that he was “not comfortable” with either the CarePay patient swipe-card contract or a subsequent contract for a pharmaceutical tracking system being awarded to the local operator of a Jamaican-St. Lucian company, but admitted he did not formally object to either deal.
HSA staff delivered CarePay checks to Watson's business
Checks for a hospital swipe-card contract were delivered to the business offices of the former health authority board chairman, a court heard last week.
CarePay trial: Judge asks about US$2.4 million 'contract'
The payment of US$2.4 million for the proposed expansion to the private sector of the Cayman Islands Hospital’s CarePay patient swipe-card system prompted questions from the Grand Court judge presiding over the trial.
CarePay trial: Watson collected, deposited check for CarePay contract
Canover Watson personally collected and deposited a check for US$686,000 that represented the first payment for the implementation of the CarePay patient swipe-card system, jurors heard Tuesday.
CarePay trial: Health chief 'shocked' by emails of Watson's dealings
Cayman Islands Health Services Authority chief executive Lizzette Yearwood said she was “shocked” by certain email communications from former HSA board chairman Canover Watson.
Free AIDS testing this week
Six days of free HIV/AIDS testing have been organized this week as part of the observance of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.
How a wealthy country can be so broke
Q: Why can’t our emergency responders have nice things? A: Because our public officials keep spending the money on other stuff.
CarePay trial: 'Everyone' supported CarePay system, claims defense
Defense attorneys in the CarePay trial say Canover Watson was made the scapegoat for the failures of many.
CarePay trial: Health Ministry duped into paying $1.2M, claims Crown
Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson deceived local government officials into paying an additional US$1.2 million for the expansion of a public hospital patient swipe-card system by “doctoring” copies of the initial CarePay card contract and sending it to Ministry of Health officials in August 2011, Crown prosecutors said Thursday.
CarePay trial: Football cash funneled into 'sham' account, claims Crown
Prosecutors said Wednesday that US$250,000 from the Cayman Islands Football Association found its way into a Fidelity Bank account initially set up to take in payments from the public healthcare system for the CarePay patient swipe-card contract.
Government funds for vehicle, asset replacement diverted
The Cayman Islands government has not planned appropriately for the need to replace old, outdated equipment in a number of areas – including service vehicles – and has actually spent money intended for that purpose on other things.
Those findings were included in a special government committee report on the management of public finances released last week.
CarePay project costs 'increased massively'
The proposed costs of a public hospital patient swipe-card project increased by as much as US$3.5 million after bid documents for the deal were submitted to former Cayman Islands Health Services Authority Board chairman Canover Watson, Crown prosecutors alleged Tuesday.
Crown: Watson, Webb used company to defraud public sector
Canover Watson, with help from his friend Jeffrey Webb and former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez, used a company he and Webb set up to “defraud public bodies of large amounts of money” jurors heard in the first day of a corruption trial.
Fifty-six jurors excused from Watson and Rodriguez trial
A jury panel was chosen on Friday for the trial of Canover Watson and Miriam Rodriguez, but not before 56 of 70 potential jurors were excused. The seven jurors and two reserves chosen were scheduled to begin hearing the matter on Monday, Nov. 23.
Hospital patients will be required to pay upfront for prescriptions
Patients at the Cayman Islands Hospital’s pharmacy will be asked to pay upfront for their prescriptions from January next year.
Anti-Corruption Commission probing 12 cases
The Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission is actively investigating 12 cases of corruption, and incoming complaints have dropped by more than half since 2012-2013.
Jury selection in corruption trial for Canover Watson set for Friday
Jury selection in the corruption trial of Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson and his former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez has been pushed back a few days, but was expected to get under way by Friday, according to attorneys involved in the case.
Bad debts a problem for public health
Over the past decade, the Cayman Islands public healthcare system has failed to collect some $120 million in debts owed for services rendered. (That's a lot of jetways!)
Health Services fails to collect $120 million since 2005
A number of government agencies have missed out on the collection of tens of millions of dollars.
Time to grow your ‘tache for MOvember
Put down that razor! There's still lots of time left to grow your MO for MOvember and raise funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
Big Tree BBQ rated finger-lickin' good
A sign in the shape of a big tree by the roadside
says it all: “Welcome to Big Tree BBQ – serving ribs, chicken, steaks
and local turtle and conch stew.”
Planning for health
As planners circulate a draft redesign for central George Town, an urban revitalization expert from the United States was on island recently to present about principles for creating healthy cities and improving public health through design at the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference.
The planning, design and architecture of a city can have serious impacts on the health of the people who live there. That was the message of James Moore with the U.S.-based Urban Land Institute.
Cleveland Clinic wants to attract Cayman's sickest patients
With an expanding campus in South Florida, the Cleveland Clinic hopes to attract more patients from the Cayman Islands.
EY Report update: Few job cuts, less outsourcing in gov’t plan
Although proposals will initially lead to few job losses and no outsourcing of functions to the private sector, the Cayman Islands government announced Monday that it would seek to move forward with a total of 51 recommendations derived from a 2014 consultant report.
Cayman's healthcare workers look to the future
More than 800 people attended the sixth annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference last week, titled “Embracing Emerging Trends.”
Conference organizers gave particular attention to palliative care, mental health and new technologies.
Premier Alden McLaughlin told the crowd assembled at The Ritz-Carlton conference center that the workshops and sessions from the conference directly result in recommendations for the Health Services Authority and government.
Drop in chikungunya, dengue cases
Five cases of chikungunya, all of which were contracted overseas, were confirmed in the Cayman Islands this year, compared to 44 reported last year.
Unpaid debts: Our 'collective' responsibility
As our government continues to grapple with the Cayman Islands’ solid waste management conundrum, another dimension to the problem has surfaced — dealing not with the cost of getting rid of Mount Trashmore, but of building it in the first place.
NCVO Radio Telethon is still going strong
The National Council of Voluntary Organisations is hoping that the public will dig deep into their pockets and pledge their support once again at the annual radio/telethon.
Half-marathon can be done at a stroll
Walking in road races is becoming increasingly popular and provides a great way to stay active, say the organizers of the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, who are encouraging all walkers to participate in the half-marathon.
Crash victim still in serious condition
A motorcyclist injured in a road accident Sunday was in a serious but stable condition Tuesday after receiving specialist treatment at Health City Cayman Islands.
Cayman's mendicant government
We empathize with the altruistic intentions of those kind souls who want to do something positive for the well-being of the Cayman community. However, the furtherance of public health is a function of government, and a key one.
Free flu shots available at hospitals, health centers
Starting this week, all residents can get flu vaccines for free at the Cayman Islands Hospital.
Heart Day raises $27K for new ambulance
The World Heart Day celebrations at Camana Bay raised $27,000 toward a new ambulance for the Health Services Authority.
Stock is helping ambulance drive
The Cayman Heart Fund is raising money for a new ambulance on Grand Cayman, as there are only three in full service at the moment.
Nursing students to train at Health City
Nursing students at the University College of the Cayman Islands will get practical training at Health City Cayman Islands following the signing of an agreement between the two institutions on Tuesday.
HSA: All incidents are fully investigated
Health Services Authority bosses insist any “adverse outcome” at its facilities is fully investigated, though they have declined to comment directly on the death of British dive industry worker Kate Clayton.
CarePay trial to start in mid-November
Jury selection in the corruption trial of Canover Watson, Cayman’s former Health Services Authority board chairman, is due to begin in mid-November.
Government IT systems open to 'threats from attack'
Auditors say Cayman's government put sensitive information and operations at risk by ignoring IT problems for years.
Information Commission marks Right to Know Week
Marking Freedom of Information’s annual “Right to Know Week,” Acting Commissioner Jan Liebaers describes 2015 as a mix of record filings and growing awareness, but against a backdrop of potential administrative threats to the office.
Kate Clayton's death: What happened at the public hospital?
It is a pernicious system that reigns within the corridors of Grand Cayman’s public hospital.
Scholarship offered to doctors for specialist training
The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association will sponsor two Caymanian doctors over the next four years as they train to become specialists.
Police investigate UK national's death
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service confirmed Friday that U.K. national Kate Clayton’s death following a Jan. 11 car crash on Grand Cayman is now the subject of a police investigation.
Ms. Clayton, 30, died in February following the one-car collision in North Side district.
Community rallies to help burn victim
Update: Burn victim Jessie Perry was transported by air ambulance to Jamaica on Thursday night.
She was taken to University College Hospital in Kingston, according to Patricia Ebanks, who is helping the family.
Burn victim in car crash needs overseas care
Cayman Islands health services officials were scrambling on Monday to make off-island medical arrangements for a woman who was critically burned in an early morning car crash along West Bay Road.
One year later: Anyone remember the EY report?
Twelve months after the release of the EY report, we look up to see that the public sector has been downsized neither in size nor scope.
Court: Webb allowed to return to Georgia
Cayman's Jeffrey Webb will be allowed to return “home” to Georgia while on bail from U.S. bribery charges.
Cayman issues poised for 'prime time'
From the standpoint of sheer numbers, we cannot recall another point in time where Cayman faced so many reputational threats of our own creation.
Maples continues CIFA funding, confirms Blake resignation
Law firm Maples and Calder will continue its sponsorship of grass roots football in the Cayman Islands despite recent controversies surrounding the game’s local governing body.
Unnamed companies gifted almost $1M to CIFA
Almost $1 million in loans from unnamed private companies have been re-assigned as sponsorship income in the Cayman Islands Football Association’s 2013/14 accounts.
More than 100 primary students fall ill at school
More than 100 students at Red Bay Primary School fell ill after the school’s lunch period on Wednesday afternoon.
CIFA rejection a kick in the shins
The upcoming CIFA elections could have constituted a fresh start for a troubled organization. Instead, the “re-elections” appear to reinforce the worst possible suspicions about CIFA’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Government in dark on full property value
Even after a recent valuation, the Cayman Islands government does not know what all of its property is worth.
Date set for annual Hedge Funds Care benefit
Hedge Funds Care Cayman will host its 11th annual 'Open Your Heart to the Children' benefit at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Nov. 21.
Children's Corner at hospital gets makeover
The children’s corner at General Practice Clinic is now a fun and colorful space for youngsters getting medical attention at Health Services Authority.
New accountant general named
Cayman has a new accountant general.
Emergency services ignored protocol in road death, review says
The first emergency medical responders did not follow protocol and did not try to resuscitate a man who died in an early morning car accident two years ago, according to an independent review of the death.
Blood pressure kiosk for Brac
The Health Services Authority has installed four new blood pressure machines this year, including one at Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac. The kiosk is the fourth machine to be installed by
health services this year, adding to one at the Government
Administration Building and two at the Cayman Islands Hospital – one in
the General Practice Unit and the other in the atrium of the main
entrance.
2015 forum to focus on emerging healthcare trends
A health care conference this fall will focus on emerging trends.
Men step up and donate blood
Members of the 1000 Man March Outreach organization donate blood.
Kids' donation to help young hospital patients
Just for Kids Pre-school in Prospect held a fundraising walkathon to raise $6,000 to buy medical equipment for the children’s ward at the Cayman Islands Hospital.
Pharmaceutical contract draws prosecutors' scrutiny
A second public hospital contract catches local prosecutors' attention in the CarePay criminal probe.
Charges allege Webb, Watson benefited from hospital contracts
Former FIFA VP Jeffrey Webb and Cayman businessman Canover Watson are alleged to have benefitted from what prosecutors say was a corruptly awarded public hospital contract.
Webb facing extradition to US and Cayman
Cayman's Jeffrey Webb is now facing criminal charges in both of his home ports.
Testing under way for arsenic poisoning
Two health and science teams arrived in Cayman on Wednesday to test at least two dozen people in the Frank Sound area for arsenic poisoning and measure ground and water contamination.
Webb charged in CarePay case
Former FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb was charged Friday in connection with an ongoing Cayman Islands criminal investigation involving the award of a public hospital contract to a local company prosecutors allege was controlled by Webb’s close associate Canover Watson.
Blood bank seeks younger donors
The Health Services Authority's Blood Bank is encouraging teens and young people to become blood donors.
Prison inspection report: Northward remains ‘decrepit and squalid’
UK inspectors say conditions in Cayman's prisons are deplorable and rules are enforced arbitrarily and with little oversight.
Free HIV testing throughout Cayman this week
The Health Services Authority, in collaboration with the Cayman AIDS Foundation and the Red Cross, is offering free HIV testing and counseling throughout this week.
Man who stabbed friend must pay $50 per week
A man with mental health issues was given a suspended sentence with numerous conditions after he pleaded guilty to wounding and common assault.
Public health: Cayman's dire case of 'bad debt'
It is highly unlikely the projected $80 million owed to Cayman's public health system will be paid back without coercion. But coercion is precisely what has been missing from the government's approach to debt collection.
Government won't take overdue debts to court
The Cayman Islands government has declined to take people to court over unpaid medical bills since 2010.
