By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Ho (V/R), Aug. 07, GNA – Dr Hintermann Mbroh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), has reaffirmed the Hospital’s commitment to strengthening specialist healthcare delivery.
This is to be achieved through an efficient referral system, expanded digital health services and continuous investments in patient safety and emergency care.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement between the Hospital’s Governing Board and the Volta Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Ho, Dr Mbroh explained that the Hospital operated two categories of patients – referred and unreferred – in line with its mandate as a tertiary healthcare institution.
He said patients who arrived without referral letters were first attended at the Hospital’s 24-Hour Family Health Centre, where they received primary healthcare services before being referred to specialist clinics when necessary.
According to him, the arrangement complied with the National Health Insurance Authority’s reimbursement framework, which distinguishes tertiary healthcare from primary healthcare services.
Dr Mbroh addressed also concerns about patient harm, cautioning against the misconception that every adverse event in a health facility amounted to medical negligence.
He said some complications, including blood clots, pressure sores and other conditions associated with prolonged hospitalisation, were recognised medical risks linked to a patient’s underlying condition rather than negligence by healthcare providers.
He said the Hospital had intensified efforts to monitor patient safety, distinguish unavoidable clinical complications from preventable incidents, and improve public understanding of the issue through stakeholder education, including collaboration with the media.
On digital health, Dr Mbroh said the Hospital was strengthening its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to support electronic medical records, laboratory and imaging management systems, as well as future telemedicine, teleconsultation and telehealth services.
He said the planned digital expansion would improve patient access to specialist care, reduce unnecessary hospital visits and enhance the overall quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
The CEO announced that the Hospital had also introduced Short Message Service (SMS)-based appointment reminders and patient feedback systems to improve communication with clients and monitor patient experiences for continuous service improvement.
Dr Mbroh expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for announcing the establishment of a Cardiology Centre at the Ho Teaching Hospital under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund initiative.
He said the project, alongside similar facilities at the Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals, would significantly strengthen the management of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases in the Volta and Oti Regions.
He noted that the Hospital was also collaborating with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to acquire high-end diagnostic equipment, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and mammography machines, to improve specialist healthcare services.
Dr Mbroh reiterated the Hospital’s support for the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare Policy, noting that the 24-hour Family Health Centre continued to provide accessible primary healthcare while emergency cases were referred to the main hospital for advanced treatment.
He said the Hospital had also adopted seven district hospitals within its catchment area, where it was providing specialist outreach services, capacity building and technical support in reproductive, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition and other priority health programmes in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and development partners.
Highlighting recent improvements in emergency care, Dr Mbroh said the MTN Foundation-supported expansion of the Accident and Emergency Centre had increased the Hospital’s emergency bed capacity from 22 to 52, including the establishment of a High Dependency Unit for critically ill patients.
He said the expanded facility would enable the Hospital to provide faster, safer and more patient-centered emergency services while improving preparedness for critical cases.
Dr Mbroh said the Hospital remained committed to delivering safe, reliable and accountable healthcare through continuous investments in infrastructure, digital innovation, specialist services and quality improvement initiatives.
He commended the media for its role in promoting public understanding of healthcare issues and called for continued collaboration to strengthen public confidence in the health system through accurate and balanced reporting.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah