Public health care professionals must display honesty in the execution of their jobs, and uphold confidentiality with regards patient information, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton has stressed.
Stating that untruthfulness can cost a patient his or her life, Dr. Norton said, “Dishonesty in the public health care system will not be tolerated and health care professionals will be dealt with condignly if they are found guilty of such,” he stated.
According to GINA, the Public Health Minister was at the time addressing the graduands of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) fifth batch of Operating Room Technicians on Friday.
The 18 persons comprised technicians from the GPHC, the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Davis Memorial Hospital, Georgetown Medical Centre and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, along with other health care workers stationed in Regions 2 and 10.
The one-year programme saw the batch undergoing training in areas of infection control, code of conduct in the operating room, care and knowledge of operating room equipment and instruments, and confidentiality of patient information.
Dr. Norton is hopeful that the knowledge and skills gained by the batch during their nine months of training and three months of preceptorship will be applied “to the best of your ability in your respective operating rooms.”
He emphasised that “Your role in ensuring the efficient functioning of the operating rooms should not be underplayed.”
He added, “As Operating Room Technicians, you contribute significantly towards ensuring that patients have the best quality pre and post-operative care. The support you provide to patients, and the assistance you provide to surgeons intra-operatively, allow for improved outcomes and overall recovery of patients.”
The Public Health Minister further urged the technicians to work in harmony with their colleagues, to offer the highest quality of patient care. He also encouraged them to grasp at other training opportunities in the future.
GPHC’s Operating Room Technician Programme has trained 67 persons over the past five years.
