St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation Director Dr. Gerard Berkel.
- EUSTATIUS--Queen Beatrix Medical Center (QBMC) gradually reopened on Monday, May 18, with new measures instituted whereby various services at the hospital were adjusted in light of the coronavirus pandemic, in line with the sixth emergency ordinance that went into effect on Friday, May 15.
St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation Director Dr Gerard Berkel said that when someone calls the emergency number, the nurse on duty will perform a telephone triage and give that person further instructions. St. Eustatius Healthcare Foundation manages QBMC.
Berkel said the Outpatient Department, which includes doctors’ clinic, policlinic and other departments, will be open from 7:00am to 3:30pm on an appointment basis only. There will be a possibility for telephone consultations along with physical appointments. QBMC is asking that patients please call the hospital first to make an appointment before visiting the hospital.
QBMC can be contacted at its main numbers tel. 318-2211 and 318-2371. It also has a mobile number 319-1500, which should only be used between 7:00am and 3:30pm and is also accessible via WhatsApp. The hospital’s emergency number is 910.
Berkel said that a maximum of 10 patients will be allowed in the hospital at any given time. This includes patients visiting all departments as well as patients visiting the dentist.
A security guard will be at the entrance of QMBC to regulate the flow of patients entering the facility. The guard will also be in contact with the front desk staff. Patients will be allowed to enter the hospital approximately 10 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time. The hospital is asking that the public cooperate with this new measure.
Access to the hospital be via H.M. Beatrix Road from 7:00am to 3:30pm. During these hours the back entrance on Fort Oranjestraat near the emergency sign will remain closed and will only be accessible during visiting hours.
For patients who require urgent care during clinic hours (7:30am to 3:30pm) a triage will be carried out. The nurse on duty will guide the patient to the triage area. “We urge you as much as possible, even in an urgent case or in the case of an emergency, to call first before coming to the hospital,” Berkel said.
Patients who require a refill of their chronic medication do not have to visit the hospital. A refill can be requested via telephone.
Patients requiring services such as driver's licence examination, insurance papers, and other services, must first call the hospital to make an appointment. Seating arrangements in the waiting area will be adjusted to comply with social-distancing rules.
After 3:30pm, persons may access the hospital via the back entrance, but they are advised to call the hospital first before arriving after hours. On arrival at the hospital, a nurse will perform a triage procedure to determine the urgency for care.
Visiting hours will remain the same: 11:30am to 12:30pm and 4:00 to 5:00pm. Only one visitor per patient will be allowed. QMBC urges potential visitors who are not feeling well to not visit the hospital during visiting hours.
District nursing care will continue with the involvement of family members where possible. Patients returning to the island after receiving medical care abroad will be seen by the district nursing department if nursing care is required.
The Home Care team will resume their duties, and services such as transportation, assistance with shopping and assistance in the home will be resumed in collaboration with family members. Clients receiving a meal via the Meals on Wheels programme will continue to receive this as per normal.
Only on-island care is being resumed. The referral process to hospitals outside of Statia depends on the reopening of services on the various islands to which patients are referred. The patient’s doctor will advise them accordingly on this process.
