More than 70 local physicians and other health care workers told Virgin Islands lawmakers Thursday that the territory’s hospitals were in dire condition, lacking staff, short on supplies, and unable to provide critical care.
Sen. Ray Fonseca said he asked a room full of hospital workers at Juan F. Luis Hospital if they thought the Virgin Islands’ health care system was in an emergency state.
“Every hand went up,” Fonseca said.
Another 51 doctors and nurses from St. Thomas and St. John signed letters to senators describing dangerous conditions at the health care facilities, Fonseca said. Medications and anesthesia were scarce. Elective and ambulatory surgeries were being canceled due to a lack of supplies, facilities and staffing. Emergency surgeries were being postponed, which sometimes meant a person awaiting surgery spends several extra days in the hospital that insurance may not cover.
Even when a doctor is available, a proper diagnosis may be difficult to obtain because a lab or lab technician may not be available.
“They can draw blood, but not analyze it,” Fonseca said. “Both hospitals need $10 million immediately. They need more than that obviously but they need $10 million right now.”
Since at least January, Fonseca, chair of the 36th Legislature’s Health, Hospitals, and Human Services Committee, has beseeched Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. to bypass the Senate and declare a state of emergency that would allow for funds to be immediately allocated to the
hospitals.
“What’s different is now it’s coming from 70 physicians,” Fonseca said.
Some of those physicians are leaving, he said, frustrated that they can’t provide the level of care they strived to.
Juan F. Luis Hospital administrators wrote back via social media, acknowledging community concerns after the physicians’ letter to the senators that highlighted urgent funding needs for the hospitals and saying the concerns were valid.
“The challenges faced by JFL are complex and multifaceted, including financial constraints, staffing shortages, and infrastructure needs. We are actively working with all stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that prioritize patient care and staff well-being,” the
administrators wrote. “We deeply appreciate the dedication of our health care professionals and the patience of our community during this time.”
