Tonight, there's one more local option for the seriously ill. The Belize Medical associates is celebrating its 16th year with the opening of its intensive care unit. Alfonso Noble visited to find out what's at the cutting edge of tertiary level of healthcare.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Belize Medial Associate's Board Chairman Dr. Marcelo Coyi says the investment includes a new intensive care unit complete with a ventilator, monitoring equipment, neurological equipment as well as a bone densitometer for better diagnosis of bone diseases.
Dr. Marceli Coyi,
“We are introducing a densitometer which is a modified X-Ray machine which checks the density of bone and using that information we can detect something called osteoporosis which is a condition when the bone becomes very porous and if untreated it can lead to fractures. The other ones are in the ICU which is a single unit. We have seen the need for intensive care for critically ill patients who will use our ventilator service and so we have invested in that also. It will be able to take care of the unconscious patient, critical patient who has long surgery and in addition to that we also have the AG machine which is used by the neurologist to detect brain waves and abnormalities in the brain.”
All told the equipment is worth some $150,000, money that Coyi says will be recovered from persons seeking better healthcare facilities.
Dr. Marceli Coyi,
“It increases what you call your diagnostic abilities. I think gone are the days when a doctor will make a diagnosis just based on symptoms and signs and examinations. We are fine tuning it and these equipments allow you to make your diagnosis quicker.”
But while there are guaranteed returns does it mean it is going to be affordable for all? Well Coyi says that persons won't be turned back as he believes most who come will be able to pay for the services and the investment will be worthwhile.
Dr. Marceli Coyi,
“We have done our business plan and certainly in terms of the intensive care is not something you are going to use everyday but we believe that if we use at least 5 times per month it will pay for itself.”
The BMA's ICU unit is able to accommodate only one person at a time.