The Heart Foundation of Jamaica was incorporated in 1971 as a voluntary organization sponsored by the Lions Club of Kingston. A few years before, the health and welfare committee of the Lions Club of Kingston with its members, Professor Mike Wooming, Dr. Jeffery Humfries, Dr. Junior Wong, Dr. Bernard Benjamin and Peter Bangerter felt that something had to be done to help heart patients in Jamaica, and to reduce the high incidence of heart attacks.
Various fundraising efforts took place and, with the regular help, especially financial, a small start was made. The Foundation soon became a member of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC), now The World Heart Federation located in Geneva, Switzerland. A part-time secretary was then hired, Mrs. Elenor Grant. A few years later, a Manager Mrs. Jeanne Shearer, was employed and an office was rented at 30 Beechwood Avenue, in Kingston. The Governor General at that time Sir Clifford Campbell was asked to be the Patron.
New Developments
For the past 41 years The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) has made its home at 30 Beechwood Avenue where we offered select services to a number of our members and the general public.
In June 2008 through the generous donations from members of the private sector and some of our very own members, we managed to purchase the adjoining premises at 28 Beechwood Avenue and relocated to our new home. With this major achievement the HFJ has been able to significantly expand its service offerings to members and the general public and host them in a more spacious and airy facility.
The new building boasts a larger pharmacy, offering prescription and over the counter drugs, increased facilities for ECG testing and medical screening, and additional space to host more medical training for lay persons and medical practitioners. There has also been the addition of a Cardiac and Diabetic clinic, which like the Hypertension clinic, will see patients with or without referrals.
The HFJ members appreciate the larger facility as the space makes them more comfortable and has allowed us to offer our services to more people. Our new services include Echocardiogram, Stress Test, Stress Echocardiogram, Pace Maker Evaluation and Holter Monitor Test.
As The Heart Foundation continues to expand, plans are underway for Cardiac Rehabilitation facility. Cardiac Rehabilitation is the combined and coordinated use of medical, psychosocial, educational, vocational and physical measures to assist persons to reduce the risk of, or prevent recurrence of a cardiac event.
Objectives
The objectives of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica are:
Prevention through education
Early detection through screening programmes
Rehabilitation through education on healthy lifestyles
Internationally, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is a member of The World Heart Federation based in Geneva, Switzerland, The InterAmerican Heart Foundation based in Dallas, Texas, USA and the International Agency on Tobacco and Health (IATH) based in London, England.
Locally, the Foundation is a member of the Council of Voluntary Social Services, The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control, and The National Resuscitation Council of Jamaica. The Foundation's Board of Directors includes representatives from The Lions Club of Kingston, University Hospital of the West Indies and the Kingston Public Hospital. The accounts are audited annually by BDO Jamaica and are presented at the Annual General Meeting.
Donations are tax deductible in Jamaica and membership to the Foundation is open to the general public for a small fee. Members receive discounts on services offered.
The staff is headed by an Executive Director, assisted by an Administrative Manager, a Fund Development & Communications Manager and a Health Administration Manager.
There are Fifty nine (59) members of staff at the Foundation.
Global Health Advocacy Project
The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) launched its obesity prevention mass media campaign on (Friday, November 17, 2017) at the Spanish Court Hotel.
The campaign, dubbed, “Are you drinking yourself sick?” aims to encourage Jamaicans to reduce the amount of added sugar in their diets. According to the HFJ, this public education campaign shows the journey of a busy working mother, Rosie, as she consumes sugary drinks throughout the day. The media campaign shows that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) can lead to obesity. “To say we are pleased to be launching this campaign in Jamaica is indeed an understatement as our vision at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) is to help Jamaicans to have a longer and better quality of life. One way that we can live a healthier lifestyle is by reducing the amount of sugar we consume,” said Deborah Chen, Executive Director.
SERVICES
Clinics
The Heart Foundation of Jamaica's medical and educational services are unique because they are aimed at helping the entire population rather than a selected few.
The work of the Foundation in preventing the onset or reoccurrence of heart disease, is of paramount importance and in an ...
The Team
Our Board of Directors
The Board members of The Heart Foundation of Jamaica are:
Mr Peter Bangerter, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr Knox Hagley, Chairman
Mr Winston Barrett, Vice Chairman
Mr Barry Beckford
Dr. Andrene Chung
Dr Edward Chung
Ms Susan Fox
Mrs Phyllis Francis
Dr Wendy Gardner
Dr. Mark Wong
Mrs Noelle Lalor
Ms Sheryll Lopez
Ms. Rowena Buddington
Dr Hafeezul Mohammed
Mr Robert Rhoden
Prof Rainford Wilks
The Management Team
The Managers are listed below. Please feel free to contact any of us.
Deborah Chen, Executive Director
Novelette Dunn, Chief Administrative Officer
Yasmin Salmon Russell, Fund Development & Communications Manager
Nola Phillpotts Brown, Health Administration Manager
Camelia Thompson, Health Promotion and Training Manager
COURSES
Courses Offered
Courses for Health Care Providers
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Paediatric Advanced Life Support
- ECG Dysrhythmia Recognition
Courses for Non-Medical Persons
- Heart Saver CPR
- Heart Saver First Aid
- Family and Friends CPR
Basic Life Support Course
Audience
Health care professionals who need to know how to perform CPR in a variety of settings.
Prerequisite
Must have a medical background.
Course Content
- Critical concepts of high quality CPR
- AHA Chain of survival
- 1-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, infant and child
- 2-rescuer CPR for adults, infant and child
- Difference between adult, infant and child rescue technique
- Bag-mask technique for adults, infant and child
- Rescue breathing for adult, infant and child
- Relief of choking in adults, infant and child
- CPR with advanced airway
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
- American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student material
AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers Text
Continuing Medical Education
Six CME hours are awarded for the BLS course
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5000.00.
Advance Cardiac Life Support Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who participate in the management of patients with cardiovascular emergencies or suffer a cardiopulmonary arrest.
Prerequisite
- Must have a medical background
- Proficiency in BLS
- Proficiency in ECG dysrhythmia recognition
Course Content
- BLS concepts
- Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
- Bradycardia and tachycardia
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Stroke
- Effective resuscitation team dynamics
Course Format
- Course is offered over two days
- Pre-course preparation
- Video-based presentation
- Skill learning stations
- Skill testing stations
- Mega-code skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course which is valid for two years. Participants must:
- Pass the 1-rescuer CPR and AED test
- Pass the 1-rescurer bag-mask ventilation test
- Demonstrate competency in all learning station skills
- Pass the megacode test
- Pass the written test with a score of at least 84%
-
Student Material
- AHA ACLS Provider Manual
- ACLS Pocket reference cards
- Pocket mask
Continuing Medical Education
Fifteen CME hours are awarded.
Registration
The registration deadline is one month prior to the course date. Cost - $20,000.00
Paediatric Advance Life Support Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who respond to children and infant emergencies in the following settings:
- Critical Care Units
- Emergency Departments
- Paediatrics Wards
- Obstetric Departments
- Special Care Nurseries
Prerequisite
- Must have a medical background
- Proficiency in BLS
- Proficiency in ECG Dysrhythmia recognition
Course Content
- 1-and-2- rescuer child CPR and AED use
- 1-and-2- rescuer infant CPR
- Management of respiratory emergencies
- Rhythm disturbances and electrical therapy
- Vascular access
- Resuscitation team concept
- Cardiac, respiratory and shock cases, discussion and simulations
- Systematic approach to paediatric assessment
Course Format
- Course is offered over two days
- Pre-course preparation
- Video-based presentation
- Skill learning stations
- Skill testing stations
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course which is valid for two years. Participants must:
- Pass the skill testing stations
- Pass the written test with a score of at least 84%
Student Material
- AHA PALS Provider Manual
- Pocket mask
Continuing Medical Education
Fifteen CME hours are awarded
Registration
The registration deadline is one month prior to the course date. Course cost - $20,000.00
ECG Dysrhythmia Recognition Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who are desirous of learning to perform and identify ECG dysrhythmias.
Prerequisite
Must have a medical background
Course Content
- Basic electrophysiology
- Normal ECG measurements
- Basic arrhythmia recognition
Course Format
- One-day course
- Pre-course preparation
- Written pre-test
- Instructor-led lectures
- ECG skill learning stations
- Dysrhythmia recognition stations
- Written post-test
Certification
- The Heart Foundation of Jamaica certificate of completion is issued at the end of the course.
Student Material
HFJ ECG Dysrhythmia Manual
Continuing Medical Education
Seven CME Hours are awarded.
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $13,000.00.
Heartsaver CPR Course
Audience
Anyone with limited or no medical training who needs to learn CPR
Prerequisite
There is no prerequisite for this course
Course Content
- Critical concepts of high quality CPR
- AHA Chain of survival
- 1-rescuer CPR and AED for adults
- 2-rescuer CPR for adults
- Bag-mask technique for adults
- Rescue breathing for adults
- Relief of choking in adults
- Optional modules – CPR and AED use for child and infant
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student Material
AHA CPR AED Student Workbook
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5,000.00.
Heartsaver First Aid Course
Audience
Anyone with limited or no medical training who needs to learn CPR
Prerequisite
There is no prerequisite for this course
Course Content
- First aid basics
- Medical emergencies
- Injury emergencies
- Environmental emergencies
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Case scenarios
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student Material
AHA First Aid manual
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5000.00
Please go to website to view course dates
The Team
Our Board of Directors
The Board members of The Heart Foundation of Jamaica are:
Mr Peter Bangerter, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr Knox Hagley, Chairman
Mr Winston Barrett, Vice Chairman
Mr Barry Beckford
Dr. Andrene Chung
Dr Edward Chung
Ms Susan Fox
Mrs Phyllis Francis
Dr Wendy Gardner
Dr. Mark Wong
Mrs Noelle Lalor
Ms Sheryll Lopez
Ms. Rowena Buddington
Dr Hafeezul Mohammed
Mr Robert Rhoden
Prof Rainford Wilks
The Management Team
The Managers are listed below. Please feel free to contact any of us.
Deborah Chen, Executive Director
Novelette Dunn, Chief Administrative Officer
Yasmin Salmon Russell, Fund Development & Communications Manager
Nola Phillpotts Brown, Health Administration Manager
Camelia Thompson, Health Promotion and Training Manager
COURSES
Courses Offered
Courses for Health Care Providers
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Paediatric Advanced Life Support
- ECG Dysrhythmia Recognition
Courses for Non-Medical Persons
- Heart Saver CPR
- Heart Saver First Aid
- Family and Friends CPR
Basic Life Support Course
Audience
Health care professionals who need to know how to perform CPR in a variety of settings.
Prerequisite
Must have a medical background.
Course Content
- Critical concepts of high quality CPR
- AHA Chain of survival
- 1-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, infant and child
- 2-rescuer CPR for adults, infant and child
- Difference between adult, infant and child rescue technique
- Bag-mask technique for adults, infant and child
- Rescue breathing for adult, infant and child
- Relief of choking in adults, infant and child
- CPR with advanced airway
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
- American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student material
AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers Text
Continuing Medical Education
Six CME hours are awarded for the BLS course
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5000.00.
Advance Cardiac Life Support Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who participate in the management of patients with cardiovascular emergencies or suffer a cardiopulmonary arrest.
Prerequisite
- Must have a medical background
- Proficiency in BLS
- Proficiency in ECG dysrhythmia recognition
Course Content
- BLS concepts
- Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
- Bradycardia and tachycardia
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Stroke
- Effective resuscitation team dynamics
Course Format
- Course is offered over two days
- Pre-course preparation
- Video-based presentation
- Skill learning stations
- Skill testing stations
- Mega-code skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course which is valid for two years. Participants must:
- Pass the 1-rescuer CPR and AED test
- Pass the 1-rescurer bag-mask ventilation test
- Demonstrate competency in all learning station skills
- Pass the megacode test
- Pass the written test with a score of at least 84%
-
Student Material
- AHA ACLS Provider Manual
- ACLS Pocket reference cards
- Pocket mask
Continuing Medical Education
Fifteen CME hours are awarded.
Registration
The registration deadline is one month prior to the course date. Cost - $20,000.00
Paediatric Advance Life Support Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who respond to children and infant emergencies in the following settings:
- Critical Care Units
- Emergency Departments
- Paediatrics Wards
- Obstetric Departments
- Special Care Nurseries
Prerequisite
- Must have a medical background
- Proficiency in BLS
- Proficiency in ECG Dysrhythmia recognition
Course Content
- 1-and-2- rescuer child CPR and AED use
- 1-and-2- rescuer infant CPR
- Management of respiratory emergencies
- Rhythm disturbances and electrical therapy
- Vascular access
- Resuscitation team concept
- Cardiac, respiratory and shock cases, discussion and simulations
- Systematic approach to paediatric assessment
Course Format
- Course is offered over two days
- Pre-course preparation
- Video-based presentation
- Skill learning stations
- Skill testing stations
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course which is valid for two years. Participants must:
- Pass the skill testing stations
- Pass the written test with a score of at least 84%
Student Material
- AHA PALS Provider Manual
- Pocket mask
Continuing Medical Education
Fifteen CME hours are awarded
Registration
The registration deadline is one month prior to the course date. Course cost - $20,000.00
ECG Dysrhythmia Recognition Course
Audience
Designed for healthcare providers who are desirous of learning to perform and identify ECG dysrhythmias.
Prerequisite
Must have a medical background
Course Content
- Basic electrophysiology
- Normal ECG measurements
- Basic arrhythmia recognition
Course Format
- One-day course
- Pre-course preparation
- Written pre-test
- Instructor-led lectures
- ECG skill learning stations
- Dysrhythmia recognition stations
- Written post-test
Certification
- The Heart Foundation of Jamaica certificate of completion is issued at the end of the course.
Student Material
HFJ ECG Dysrhythmia Manual
Continuing Medical Education
Seven CME Hours are awarded.
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $13,000.00.
Heartsaver CPR Course
Audience
Anyone with limited or no medical training who needs to learn CPR
Prerequisite
There is no prerequisite for this course
Course Content
- Critical concepts of high quality CPR
- AHA Chain of survival
- 1-rescuer CPR and AED for adults
- 2-rescuer CPR for adults
- Bag-mask technique for adults
- Rescue breathing for adults
- Relief of choking in adults
- Optional modules – CPR and AED use for child and infant
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Skill testing
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student Material
AHA CPR AED Student Workbook
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5,000.00.
Heartsaver First Aid Course
Audience
Anyone with limited or no medical training who needs to learn CPR
Prerequisite
There is no prerequisite for this course
Course Content
- First aid basics
- Medical emergencies
- Injury emergencies
- Environmental emergencies
Course Format
- One-day course
- Video-based presentation
- Instructor-led lectures
- Instructor-led practice
- Case scenarios
- Written examination
Certification
American Heart Association Certificate of Completion is issued on successful completion of the course. Participants must be competent in skills performed and must score a minimum of 84% in the written test. The AHA certificate is valid for two years.
Student Material
AHA First Aid manual
Registration
The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the course date. Course cost - $5000.00
Please go to website to view course dates
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