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Hartford HealthCare Celebrates Special Partnership with the Jamaican Health Consulate

September 26, 2022

Hartford HealthCare was proud to welcome Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton and Consul General Alsion Roach Wilson to Hartford HealthCare for a special signing ceremony to formalize the important partnership that has developed during the past two years.

Hartford HealthCare will continue to work together to improve access to care, share consultative services and simulation training and to take part in CODE CARE, which encourages nurses to travel to assist in Jamaican hospitals.

“We built enduring relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned so much, and we want to continue to expand the partnership,” said Jeff Flaks, Hartford HealthCare president and CEO.

Training, sharing services

He spoke about CODE CARE, where nurses can travel for a week or two to work in Jamaican hospitals, and also get a chance to rest and relax for a couple days.

Flaks also spoke about the resources available through the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI) to offer virtual training and support for medical personnel, as well as bring people in for intensive trainings in certain situations.

“We want to pledge our resources and continued support to Jamaica, it is a relationship we value deeply,” he said.

Dr. Tufton said he is excited to strengthen the relationship and build new partnerships.

“We have learned from the experiences of the last few years that we need to build stronger, more resilient health systems,” he said.

Flaks also spoke about Keith Grant, APRN, HHC senior director of Infection Prevention, who has been an integral part of the partnership, providing real time connections and insight. Grant was born in Jamaica and has strong ties to the country.

Reaching out to Jamaican local community

Hartford HealthCare Jamaica partnership

A memorandum of understanding was signed to formalize the agreement, which includes the following:

  • Benefits for Jamaica:
    • Improving the health and wellness of patients in Jamaican health facilities.
    • Increasing the number of elective surgeries performed, reducing backlog.
    • Education and focusing on areas of the health system that need the most improvement to help the flow and access of care.
    • Local focus on the Jamaican population in Hartford.
  • Benefits for HHC:
    • Creating more access to care in the community.
    • Exchange of professional expertise – opportunities for medical professionals to provide support in Jamaica.

Hartford HealthCare has been able to donate lifesaving PPE, medical equipment and supplies to undeserved areas in Jamaica.

From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartford HealthCare has expanded its community outreach, meeting people where they are and creating more access to care. This initiative has not only helped to manage the pandemic in Jamaica, but it has made an impact in our own community helping to promote a healthy lifestyle within the Jamaican population in Hartford.