“Don’t do anything you weren’t trained to do”– GPHC CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Brigadier Ret’d George Lewis sent a stern warning to the 56 Patient Care Assistants (PCA) to not attempt anything they were not trained to do while executing their duties.
The PCA were part of a six-month training programme which culminated with a graduation ceremony on Friday at the Georgetown Club. Although 60 persons started the training on June 5, 2018, only 56 completed the syllabus.
The CEO encouraged the graduates to demonstrate love to their patients while reminding them that they are not doctors.
“Remember that you are not doctors or you are not nurses, you are Patient Care Assistants. You’ve been trained to perform a function (so) do not attempt to perform anything that you were not trained for,” he warned.
The CEO further told the graduates that if they attempt something they were not trained for, they are likely to make mistakes which may result in a patient losing his/her life.
He encouraged the new batch of healthcare providers to report any mistakes they make to their superiors.
“If you make a mistake ensure that you report the mistake as early as possible (because) in health care, time is of the essence and if you make a mistake and you report it early, then your immediate superiors will be able to correct the mistake,” Lewis stated.
In addition, they were urged that if a mistake is made, the pathologist will be able to find out the reason behind the person’s death and trace it back to the individual(s).
Meanwhile, the Deputy CEO of medical facility, Elizabeth Gonsalves, reminded the graduates that they chose an interesting career and to make a difference as they enter the field.
She urged them not to think about the pay cheque but in fact serve others without prejudice.
Gonsalves’ words were endorsed by the Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako who also told new health providers to serve the patients as their families and provide equal health care regardless of ethnicity and other values.
Shako said, “Give equal health care to all patients and this is irrespective of the patient’s colour, the patient’s creed, the patient’s ethnicity, the socio-economic background the patient may come from, whether the patient has money or not, you deal with all patients the same way”.
The persons who graduated will be dispersed across Guyana, as many of the students were hauled from the hinterland areas. In fact, one of the best graduating students came from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).