|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Medical Association of Jamaica
Annual Committee Reports - 2008-2009
EDUCATION & PUBLICATION COMMITTEE
Prepared by: Dr. Roger Gibson (Past Chairman)
The activities of the Education and Publication Committee were focused on the further development of the Treatment Guideline Series and on assistance with the planning and execution of the 2009 Annual Symposium
Treatment Guidelines
In continuation of the Treatment Guideline series, an advanced draft of HIV Guidelines has been completed. This draft was completed in collaboration with the personnel from the National HIV/ STI Programme in the Ministry of Health and should be published as soon as sponsorship is finalized.
The Depression Guidelines remain incomplete.
Symposium
The committee was integral to the planning of the 2009 Annual Symposium, beginning with a review of the participant feedback from the 2008 symposium and continuing with active participation on the Symposium Committee.
ETHICS COMMITTEE
Prepared by: Dr. Alan Barnett (Chairman)
It has been another relatively quiet, yet successful and productive year for the Ethics Committee.
The committee is made up of the following members:
Dr. Alan Barnett; Consultant Anaesthetist, Lecturer at UWI: Chair
Dr. Shaun Wynter; Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Lecturer at UWI
Dr. Michael Boyne; Consultant Endocrinologist, Lecturer at UWI
Dr. Lisa Leo-Rhynie-Griffiths; Consultant Ophthalmologist, Private practitioner
The committee met in-person infrequently as were all busy and had difficulty coordinating our complicated schedules, but overcame these issues by regular communication via email.
Complaints proceedings
Much of the year was spent discussing and addressing the events at the National Chest Hospital, which will not be rehashed here.
The committee received a number of other complaints against colleagues.
We were able to resolve some of these in a satisfactory manner, through communication and mediation between the parties.
Unfortunately, a few issues remain outstanding, but we hope to address these in the near future.
We were not made aware of any issues which were of grave concern which were not addressed.
Ethics Workshops
We continued to develop the Ethics Workshops which began last year, spearheaded by the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ).
This became even more important, as the Medical Council of Jamaica (MCJ) mandated that all medical practitioners required two hours of Continuing Medical Education that addressed Medical Ethics.
A number of such workshops were run, with collaboration between the MAJ, the MCJ and the Medical Association of Jamaica Indemnity Fund (MAJIF).
Unfortunately, there was a degree of miscommunication between these organisations resulting in difficulty in arranging sufficient workshops in an efficient manner. These issues are now being resolved and we hope to stage many more in the remainder of the year and beyond.
Planned activities
1. Development of more Ethics Symposia, to be presented at other areas around the island.
2. Develop printed guidelines regarding the way in which the MAJ deals with and processes complaints.
3. Be more proactive in addressing allegations of unethical / inappropriate behavior by medical professionals
SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE
Prepared by: Dr. Fay Whitbourne (Past Chairman)
The annual symposium was held on the 4th June 2009 to the 7th June 2009 under the theme: “The Impact of Trauma on the Health of our Nation.” The Symposium examined the financial and social costs to the nation; the causes of trauma; its impact on the nation; psychological syndromes that result from certain types of trauma; the physician’s responsibility in child abuse cases; the surgical management of trauma; trauma to the pregnant and non-pregnant woman and its consequences; critical care of victims of serious trauma and the long term rehabilitation of victims of trauma.
The Symposium definitely achieved its aims and objectives as most attendees have reflected on the quality and content of the scientific sessions. The programme was highly rated by many participants. The delivery of the presentations were well-supported by teaching aids with cutting edge technology. There is, however, need to hasten the delivery of abstracts, photos etc of presenters especially for the early completion of the Symposium Magazine.
There were five (5) workshops, namely: How to Assess Personal Injury and Prepare an Excellent Medico-Legal Report, the ABCs of Neurology for the General Practitioners, Spine Pathology – diagnosis and treatment, Counseling Traumatized Patients and their Families and ECG & Dysrhythmias. They were well attended in spite of a few glitches. There is need to document the newly-acquired skills on tape for posterity, teaching and income generation for the MAJ. Sponsorship, as usual, was difficult as most pharmaceutical companies have contracted incomes.
The Banquet and Awards Dinner was fairly well supported as we had over two hundred attendees. The early identification of a guest speaker helped to reduce some of the headaches. The early printing and preparation of Banquet tickets and the attractive gate prizes, not to mention our Guest Speaker were factors in the success of the Banquet. In-house and awardees sale of tickets have proved to be the most effective re: accountability. The awardees this year were: Professor Archibald McDonald, Drs. Brendan Dunn and Earl Wright.
We encourage all delegates to complete and hand in their evaluation forms for guidance of future symposium.
Thanks go to the members of the executive, secretariat and all who made Symposium 2009 the success it was intended to be.
WELLNESS FOR PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE
Prepared by: Dr. Blossom Anglin-Brown (Past Chairman)
MEMBERS:
Dr Blossom Anglin-Brown - Chair
Dr. Ouida Golding-Beecher
Dr. Franklyn LaHee
Dr. Wendel Abel
Dr. Marjorie Kerr
Dr. Charlotte Bedasse
Dr. Barbara Salmon
Dr. Derrick Aarons
Dr. Greg Thomas
ACTIVITIES
In western Jamaica, Dr. G. Thomas joined the group. He has mobilized the other members to make presentations at the next meeting of the Western Branch (MAJ).
Book markers were produced which were distributed at the MAJ symposium. These will also be distributed at the next meeting of the Western Branch. These are to be used in raising the awareness of colleagues to this important issue.
Plans were in place to have a speaker from The British Medical Association to address colleagues and students on Wellness issues. The speaker cancelled at the last moment citing the fear of criminal activities in Jamaica as the reason.
Meetings were mainly on-line. One major planning meeting had the input of all members and two co-opted members.
CHALLENGES
Many problems were identified in this group. There is an obvious urgent need to work with our medical students and younger graduates. The main issues noted were:
Alcohol and substance abuse
Major depression
Marital discord
Bereavement
Burn-Out
Both staff and students continue to be concerned about emerging problems in the Medical school at Mona seen as a result of larger class sizes.
WAY FORWARD
Fundraising efforts must be increased and supported
Support by international colleagues who have worked in this area
Continued sensitization of the profession.
|
|
|
|
|
|
