Long Island Tragedy Prompts Health Initiative

Doctor’s Hospital is launching an initiative on Long Island with the aim of equipping residents on that island with sustainable tools to assist in life threatening emergencies.

When 20-year-old Mandie Constantakis Jr., his 18-year-old cousin, Manoli and their friend, Trevon Roxbury, died in a car crash on back in January, many Long Islanders lamented the state of healthcare on the island.

18-year-old Manoli was still alive after the accident, and was airlifted to New Providence more than 5 hours later, much to his family’s dismay.

While they aren’t making a grandiose promise, Doctor’s Hospital CEO Dr. Charless Diggiss says there are practical things that can be done to help save lives on remote islands.

Diggiss says there’s no benefit to Doctor’s Hospital showing up like a flash then disappearing. He says their focus will be on educating providers and getting them advanced life support certification. In addition, they will run “code” simulations every 6 months.

Of course, residents on remote islands want as much access to physical resources as possible. After the accident, Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville responded saying we must and can do better as a nation. He says work is underway to make the hospital in Exuma a hub for the southern islands. And while he acknowledges that something like an advanced ambulance may be a necessary solution, Dr. Diggiss believes a foundation needs to be laid first.