Introduction
The Hugh Wynter Institute for Reproductive Healthcare and Endoscopic Surgery (HWI-RHES) is committed to providing women and men with high-quality services in contraceptives, assisted conception, fertility-sparing surgeries, management of chronic pelvic pain and endoscopic surgeries. The institute, under the leadership of Dr. John Harriott, the Director, has taken steps to advance its focus areas: Clinical Services, Training, Research, and Outreach, and implemented initiatives to enhance its income-generating potential. The institute underwent an audit to obtain ISO 9001 certification for HWI-IVF Jamaica, which was successfully achieved. The Clinical Section of the HWI offers various services, including family planning, minimally invasive gynaecological surgeries, and assisted reproductive technology. The programme provides training in MSc Counselling, with a total of four actively enrolled students. The HWI partnered with the Mona Library Health and Wellness Committee to host an Endometriosis – Understanding Our Women Hybrid Webinar and support the BASE Foundation to commemorate Endometriosis Month. The income statement for the reviewed period shows an income of $319,555,752.14 and an expenditure of $298,130,595.20, resulting in a profit of $21,425,165.94.
The HWI’s strategic direction aligns with the new strategic plan, "Revenue Revolution", for 2022–2027, which aims to drive income generation within the University of the West Indies by improving efficiency, maximising capacity and throughput. This report is aligned with the first phase of The University Triple-A, "The Reputation Revolution", activated from 2017–2022, and details the HWI’s accomplishments from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023.
Access
Clinical Services
The Clinical Section of the HWI offers patients a comprehensive range of services, including family planning, minimally invasive gynaecological surgeries, and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Our team of experienced medical professionals utilises cutting-edge technology and modern surgical techniques to provide high-quality care to our patients.
Family Planning and Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeries
Tables 1 and 2 provide a detailed breakdown of the number and type of services rendered between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023. A total of 509 surgeries were performed. Meanwhile, Table 3 outlines the monthly number of family planning method users during the same period, with 1,551 users and 156 new patient registrations.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Table 4 presents a comprehensive record of all clients counselled between August 2022 and July 2023. The table details the number of couples and single women who accessed the services, including the number of males and females with infertility factors among couples. Additionally, the table highlights the primary services that single women requested.
During the review period, 94 couples were seen, with 48 men and 82 women presenting with medical conditions that prevented them from natural conception. Moreover, 18 single women accessed assisted conception services for oocyte cryopreservation and participated in the Third-Party Reproduction Programme.
Table 5 provides a detailed breakdown of the number and outcome of pregnancies from August 2022 to July 2023, including the monthly number of deliveries during that period. Fifty-nine pregnancies were recorded, with ten being biochemical and 49 clinical pregnancies. Seven of the clinical pregnancies resulted in miscarriages, while 45 babies were born. Table 6 can be referred to for a detailed breakdown of the pregnancies.
Lastly, 222 assisted reproductive techniques were performed during the review period. Table 7 provides a comprehensive summary of the various methods performed, including Egg Recovery (116), Embryo Transfer (34), Frozen Embryo Transfer (106), Intra-uterine insemination (7), Cryopreservation of eggs (7), Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) (6), and Egg sharer/donors (7).
ISO 9001:2015 Certification of HWI-IVF Jamaica
The HWI-RHES underwent an audit to obtain the ISO 9001 certification of HWI-IVF Jamaica. A Quality Management Systems (QMS) team was formed, and the staff underwent training to understand the ISO 9001 requirements. The QMS team collaborated with various IVF Jamaica’s staff to integrate the changes outlined in the action plan and then updated the procedures. After completing the necessary preparation, NCBJ conducted a virtual and on-site audit to determine HWI-IVF Jamaica's compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards. Based on the audit results, NCBJ recommended certification to the International Certification Body. Under Dr. Harriott's leadership, the HWI-IVF Jamaica team passed the ISO 9001 certification process, demonstrating a commitment to quality and adherence to international standards. The ISO certification can be seen in Figure 1.
Training
MSc Counselling Programme
Based on the latest enrolment status report, the MSc Counselling programme currently has four students actively engaged in their research projects. Of these students, three have completed the programme. However, the fourth encountered an obstacle in obtaining approval from the national health authorities in Trinidad. Fortunately, after some delay, the student was approved and is now able to proceed with the programme.
The graduation ceremony was a significant milestone, with one student from Dominica and two from Trinidad completing the MSc Counselling programme. The programme's success continued in 2022–2023, with 29 students from six Caribbean countries registering for and finishing pre-qualifying courses. The programme’s excellence is thanks to Dr. Kamla Anderson, a Course Development Specialist, who led the creation of five online courses with the support of relevant subject matter experts. The program's reputation drew in 67 applications in September 2023. Of those, 36 were offered a place in the programme, and 31 were accepted, successfully enrolling.
ALIGNMENT
Major Conference/Seminars
The following are significant events attended by different individuals:
- Deon Black attended the MarTech Summit London 2022, a Marketing Technology Summit held in the United Kingdom on November 17–18, 2022.
- Kamali Carroll attended the summer 2022 PGT-A Webinar Series in August 2022. The webinar discussed "The Reproductive Potential of Low Mosaic Embryos" and was scientific.
- Yvonne Walters attended the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Introductory Training Course for Infertility Counselling: Practice and New Challenges. The course was held virtually on the Prague Czech Republic Virtual Campus and was attended in 2023. Yvonne received a Certificate of Attendance. Yvonne Walters also participated in the Professional Education System Institute (PESI) virtual course on "Pregnancy and Infant Loss: Effective Strategies to Support Grief and Treat Trauma, Anxiety and Depression in Bereaved Parents". The course was completed in 2023, and Yvonne received a certificate of successful completion.
OUTREACH
Endometriosis Month 2023
HWI-LHEW co Hybrid Webinar
Hugh Wynter Institute collaborated with the Mona Library Health and Wellness Committee, known as LHEW co, to organise a hybrid webinar entitled "Endometriosis – Understanding Our Women". The event aimed to educate the University of the West Indies community and online attendees about endometriosis. Consultant Dr. Michelle Bailey and Counsellor Nurse Yvonne Walters participated in the webinar, as depicted in Figure 2.
Radio Interviews and Endo March
The Hugh Wynter Institute collaborated with the BASE Foundation, a long-standing partner, to commemorate Endometriosis Awareness Month as part of the Foundation's 10th Anniversary celebrations. The collaboration involved a series of events, including a church service at Webster Memorial United Church on March 5, 2023, an Endo Talk at the JAMPRO Auditorium on March 9, 2023, and an EndoMarch at Webster Memorial Church on March 25, 2023. The team from the Hugh Wynter Institute participated in these events, and Figure 3 shows the team that took part.
Church Service and Endo March
Several team members participated in the Endometriosis Awareness March on March 25, 2023 in observance of Endometriosis Awareness Month. Additionally, on March 5, some members attended a church service.
Endo Talk
Dr. Loxley Christie, a consultant, participated in a public forum called "Endo Talk: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges". The forum discussed some of the less talked about issues that affect women's overall well-being. The event occurred on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at the JAMPRO Auditorium at 18 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 5. Figure 4 shows Dr. Loxley Christie participating in the EndoTalk.
AGILITY
INCOME GENERATION
The income statement for the period under review revealed an income of $319,555,752.14 and an expenditure of $298,130,595.20, resulting in a profit of $21,425,165.94. It should be considered that the expense of $293,130,595.20 includes a commitment totalling $29,487,029.78.