The Health Services Authority (HSA) has expanded its Clinical Education Department to focus on staff development through capacity building and skill enhancement. This initiative aims to empower employees to deliver superior patient care while seizing new professional opportunities and filling critical vacancies.

Thedepartment has successfully offered an Operating Room Assistant Training course, certifying seven Operating Room Assistants (ORA). The HSA, through several certification training initiatives this year, has sought to empower members of staff and promote the expertise of Caymanians in healthcare. 

Lizzette Yearwood, CEO at the HSA noted that “the expansion of the Clinical Education Department underscores our commitment as a teaching facility and improves professional standards that will ultimately benefit the community. The offering of courses to staff helps us to build a stronger, capable workforce to elevate the standard of care and provide us with opportunities to fill positions quickly while continuing our culture of exceptional delivery of care.” 

Participants in the Operating Room Assistant Training course underwent extensive training to broaden their understanding of procedures and strengthen their effectiveness as support members within the operating room team of expert doctors and nurses. 

Caymanian Ashley White, who started at the HSA as a temporary office attendant, expressed that her interest in pursuing certification was piqued “because it was a new and exciting opportunity for me to enter the medical field. Also, I have a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and working in the operating room allows me to directly contribute to our patients’ well-being. I like the fact that the job is hands-on and in a fast-paced environment.”

White is aware of her growth potential and the value she brings to the operating room team of experts with her skill upgrade. This certification has provided me with structured training in essential skills, such as sterilisation techniques, patient safety protocols, and how to assist in surgical procedures. This directly contributes to the improvement of patient care outcomes and enhances my satisfaction in my role as an operating room assistant. Achieving this certification boosts my value by affirming my skills and preparation,” she said. 

ORAs assist during surgical operations, helping to turn over rooms, clean equipment, set up instruments and help with the preparation of the theatre. ORAs are recruited from the Environmental Services Department and Porters. 

Participants in the training programme were:

• Ashley White
• Sophia Bigby-Harrison​
• Paul Garriques ​
• Branique Kerr ​
• Lisa King​
• Tamara Pearson ​
• Jeysee Taylor​
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• The course, which is offered free of charge to HSA staff, demonstrates the prioritisation of providing opportunities for professional advancement at all staff levels. 

“This cohort of Operating Room Assistants will play a critical role in promoting patient safety and contributing to efficiency in the OR. It also speaks to the value of collaborative care, where well-trained support staff serve as an essential link in the chain of patient management, enabling surgeons and nurses to focus on complex clinical tasks without compromising efficiency or safety. The initiative reinforces the HSA’s dedication to staying at the forefront of patient care experience, demonstrating that excellence begins with empowering the people who deliver care,” Yearwood stated.

Grateful for the support she has received from her team and facilitators, White expressed that “all that I have accomplished in this programme could not have been had was it not for the help of my colleagues, and my immediate mentor Nurse Chemeika Graham who was instrumental in providing not only theoretical wisdom but practical guidance to the edification of myself and the other Operating Room Assistants.”

This commitment to fostering growth and education not only enhances HSA’s dedication to continuous improvement in service excellence but also reflects efforts to improve its human resources.

“This opportunity indicates to me that HSA is invested in its staff members. It is a sign of long-term career growth within the organisation and a chance to build a deeper relationship with HSA. It shows that the HSA supports employees to further their education, and this increases staff members’ value,” White emphasized. 

The ORA certification training is designed by HSA’s Clinical Education Team with the support and involvement of the Operating Room Manager, preceptors and mentors. The certification process exposed participants to intricate details of the extended roles as ORAs, through lectures, discussions, demonstrations of skills with equipment, and self-directed learning by completing the online components skills workbook and written and practical examinations.