Cardiovascular Services Initiative
Cardiac disease remains a major health concern in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. As part of the TTHSI, a comprehensive cardiovascular programme is being considered which provides medical services, training and education within a long-term strategic development focus centred on the establishment of:
- Preventive Cardiology Services;
- Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Unit;
- Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Services;
- Interventional Cardiology; and
- Non-Invasive Imaging Service.
The Cardiovascular Services Initiative would also include inter-disciplinary collaborations with Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Vascular Surgery and Cardiac Surgery, thereby allowing for improvements in the treatment of related diseases in Trinidad and Tobago – such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease.
The primary objectives of the initiative are:
- Enhancement of technical competencies for primary care physicians and cardiac specialists
- Enhancement of competencies for administrative support personnel
- Development of competencies for related technical disciplines aligned with the operation of cardiac catheterisation facilities, including:
- Training of nursing staff and radiologic technicians;
- Development of quality control management protocols
- Exposure to cost-effective analyses for inventory management;
- Training in the application of appropriate protocols for pre- and post- management of patients undergoing diagnostic and interventional procedures;
- Training in complex interventions.
- Development of a regional cardiovascular network system with Eric Williams Medical Science Complex as the tertiary cardiac center with recognized expertise in:
- Diagnostic and interventional cardiology;
- Electrophysiology;
- Advanced treatment of heart failure;
- Treatment of valvular heart disease;
- Device management;
- Advanced imaging techniques; and
- Treatment of adults/adolescents with congenital heart disease
It is intended that the above activities will be initially developed at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, with the educational and training support and being dovetailed with a services provision plan being considered by the Ministry of Health for the operation of the Catherisation facilities at the Complex. | 
