Roxborough Hospital’s medical outpatient clinic has made history by becoming the first facility in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to be recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This prestigious designation underscores the clinic’s commitment to delivering exceptional, personalized care tailored to the needs of older adults. The AFHS initiative, a collaborative effort between The John A. Hartford Foundation and the IHI, aims to elevate the standard of healthcare for the elderly population. Dr. Naila Edwards, a leading geriatrician and age-friendly initiative leader at Roxborough Hospital, emphasized that this recognition is more than an accolade—it is a pledge to the community to provide evidence-based, harm-free care that aligns with patients’ priorities. The AFHS framework is built on four core principles, known as the 4Ms: What Matters (aligning care with patients’ health goals), Medication (ensuring medications do not hinder mobility or cognition), Mentation (addressing mental health issues like dementia and depression), and Mobility (promoting safe daily movement). To celebrate this milestone, Roxborough Hospital and the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) will host a community outreach event on November 14 at the Belle Garden community center. The event will feature educational booths, physical therapy demonstrations, dementia screenings, and medication safety consultations, engaging older adults and their support networks. Dr. Edwards highlighted the significance of this achievement, positioning Tobago as a leader in geriatric healthcare within the Caricom region. The TRHA continues to provide high-quality healthcare services, with Roxborough Hospital’s outpatient clinic at the forefront of innovation and excellence in patient care.
