World-class Hospital to Open in Barbados to Serve Global Medical Tourism Market

    World-class Hospital to Open in Barbados to Serve Global Medical Tourism Market

    PR Newswire

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

    – Site of Former St.
    Joseph
    Hospital Attracts International
    Healthcare Investment

    Invest Barbados today announced that a new world-class hospital
    will be built on the site of the former St. Joseph Hospital as part
    of a long-term development program that will also bring several
    specialty treatment centres, biotechnology research companies and
    patient accommodation facilities to the country over the next five
    years.?

    “This exciting initiative brings a national asset back into
    productive use in a way that will generate foreign exchange,
    international investment and tax revenue,? as well as?
    employment and skills training and technology transfer,” said Wayne
    Kirton
    , the CEO of Invest Barbados.?

    The project is being undertaken by American World Clinics
    (“AWC”), a corporation that supports, arguably, the most respected
    healthcare brand in the world–board-certified American
    physicians–by providing them with a favorable practice environment
    in which to provide the highest standard of medical care to an
    international clientele.

    “Our role is to support what is, we believe, the most respected
    healthcare brand in the world–board-certified American
    physicians–and we believe that Barbados has the quality of life,
    educational facilities, and technological resources to enable us to
    achieve our strategic goals as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Paul
    Angelchik
    , a plastic surgeon from Phoenix, Arizona and CEO of
    AWC.?

    “We have been particularly impressed by the prudence and
    sophistication that the Government of Barbados has demonstrated in
    considering our proposal,” added Robert Priddy, an experienced
    healthcare executive and AWC President. “We intend to work with its
    officials closely in the years ahead to meet the interests not only
    of our physician-members, but also of the people of Barbados.”

    Registered as a Barbadian corporation, American World Clinics
    expects to attract investors from the United States, Canada and the
    United Kingdom who are interested in the potential of medical
    tourism. The primary market for AWC’s hospital and care services
    and facilities in Barbados will be patients from the UK and North
    America
    , but treatment will also be available to Barbadians and
    other international clients seeking private medical and surgical
    care.

    The project will bring numerous benefits to Barbados, Mr. Kirton
    explained.? The estimated construction and equipment cost of
    the first phase of foreign investment is approximately BDS$92
    million, providing jobs for about 200 Barbadians.

    Once operations begin, approximately 230 persons will be
    employed at the facility in a range of job categories. AWC has
    pledged to hire locally whenever possible.

    The development will generate the equivalent of BDS$200 million
    per year in foreign exchange during its first few years, according
    to conservative estimates, with that figure rising steadily over
    the longer term.

    “Of equal importance for the future of our country,” said
    Barbados’ Minister of Health, the Hon. Donville Inniss, “is the
    opportunity for Barbadian healthcare professionals to work
    alongside leading US surgeons in employing the latest medical
    techniques and equipment to improve patient outcomes.

    “While medical care will primarily be provided U.S. physicians
    and healthcare specialists, Barbadian professionals will be able to
    collaborate with them on a daily basis in working with patients.
    These professional partnerships, as well as the introduction of new
    research and specialty care facilities to our infrastructure, will
    provide significant benefits in terms of both technology and skills
    transfer.”

    He added that AWC will work with public health officials to
    ensure that the facility’s operations will not have a negative
    impact on the number of local healthcare professionals available to
    serve Barbadians’ need.

    In addition, Mr. Kirton pointed out that the estimated tourism
    value of patient visits will be in excess of BDS$50 million per
    year for accommodation, food and beverages, taxi services, car
    hires and other related goods and services.

    AWC’s initial hospital facility will offer a wide range of
    services – urologic surgery, orthopedic surgery, bariatric surgery,
    ENT surgery, general and gynecologic surgery, ophthalmic surgery,
    dental surgery, plastic surgery, dermatological treatment and
    medical research. Specialty centers for neuroscience, cardiology
    and oncology will be developed in conjunction with the main AWC
    hospital facility.

    The main facility will include:

    • 12 operating rooms
    • 50 inpatient/overnight beds capable of swing capacity to
      support critical care needs
    • 20 outpatient, pre- and post-operative exam rooms
    • A separate cosmetic dentistry area
    • Diagnostics, radiology and laboratory facilities
    • A wellness, spa and recuperative component.

    Over the next five years, as part of the program, branches of
    internationally known specialty treatment centres from the United
    States
    , as well as several medical equipment and biotechnology
    research companies are expected to open. Patient and family
    accommodation facilities will also be developed.

    It is expected that the hospital will be accredited by the Joint
    Commission International, which provides the gold standard in
    healthcare accreditation services to hospitals around the
    world.?

    In return for AWC’s construction and operation of the facility,
    the Government of Barbados will lease the property for a period of
    25 years, with an option to renew for a further 25 years.

    In order to meet international hospital construction and design
    standards required for accreditation, AWC’s advisors have
    determined that none of the existing structures on the St. Joseph
    hospital site are suitable for use, so that the project will
    require substantial greenfield construction and capital investment
    prior to the start of operations, and will be subject to Barbados
    Town and Country Planning and environmental planning guidance and
    approval.

    About Invest Barbados
    Invest Barbados (IB) is an economic development agency of the
    Government of Barbados. IB is responsible for attracting, winning
    and sustaining investment for Barbados. The agency is also
    responsible for promoting the export of indigenous services and
    goods while managing and developing the Barbados business
    brand.

    About American World Clinics
    American World Clinics (AWC) develops innovative medical facilities
    targeting the growing international medical travel market.?
    AWC-Barbados, the organization’s first clinic, will provide quality
    clinical services, delivered by U.S.-trained physicians and
    international doctors with equivalent training and
    certification.

    The quality of patient care offered at AWC-Barbados will meet or
    exceed the standard of care in the U.S., and its facilities and
    processes will meet the highest accreditation standards. AWC’s
    operating model, designed by physicians for physicians, aims to
    create an environment in which patients receive exceptional,
    personalized care from doctors are able to devote full attention to
    their patients and the practice of medicine.? The AWC-Barbados
    clinic is expected to open in mid-2013.

    For further information:

    or to arrange for an interview with a spokesperson for Invest
    Barbados or American World Clinics, please contact:

    Karen Nussbaum
    Mansfield Communications
    225 Richmond Street West, Suite 302
    Toronto ON M5V 1W2
    +1-416-301-3193?
    karen@mcipr.com