A Vision For the Future of Cardiovascular Medicine Practise in Ghana: Inspiration From the Yale-New Haven Health System

The Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation (GPSF) of North America sponsors Ghanaian clinical fellows to undertake an eight-weeklong clinical observation with the Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Health (YNHH) annually, through the Residents in Training Educational Stipend (RI...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global heart 2024-09, Vol.19 (1), p.75-75
Main Authors: Asamoah, Kofi Tekyi, Beasley, Michael Harry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiology - economics
Cardiology - education
Cardiology - organization & administration
Cardiology - trends
cardiovascular
Cardiovascular Diseases - therapy
Delivery of Health Care - economics
Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration
Delivery of Health Care - trends
Ghana
global health
Humans
task shifting
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation (GPSF) of North America sponsors Ghanaian clinical fellows to undertake an eight-weeklong clinical observation with the Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Health (YNHH) annually, through the Residents in Training Educational Stipend (RITES) programme. This offers the opportunity to appreciate new perspectives in clinical care to improve Ghana's healthcare standard. The cardiovascular medicine workforce at the YNHH is heterogenous, with significant reliance on non-doctor cadres of health workers who demonstrate competence. This is contrasted from the Ghanaian system which despite having a poorer physician-patient ratio, is heavily dependent on doctors. Technological advancements are minimal in Ghana, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges which are otherwise minimised at the YNHH. A strong patient-centred culture, coupled with a coordinated emergency response system that ensures appropriate timely transfers, culminate in good care and outcomes. Ideas on how the experience can be translated to Ghanaian clinical practise in cardiovascular medicine, after participating in the RITES programme, are shared in this paper with an emphasis on task sharing, strengthening emergency response systems and improving technological sophistication through capacity building, mentorship and improved health financing.
ISSN:2211-8179
2211-8179
DOI:10.5334/gh.1357