A quorum of board members attended the virtual monthly meeting of the V.I. Government Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Territorial Board Wednesday evening.
The meeting was called to order by newly appointed Chair Dr. Jerry Smith, who welcomed attorney Devin Carrington as the new legal counsel for Juan F. Luis Hospital. Reports were given by members including the finance committee and the chief executive officer of the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
CEO Tina Comissiong told the board the hospital will have dispersed $6.5 million from the V.I. Government within the next 30 days. Already $4 million has been used to pay older debts, not new orders, to “repair strained vendor relationships,” and continue to get supplies from them, she said.
Some critical supplies have been received, although the CEO noted it has been difficult with tariffs and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol clearance changes.
Hospital staff continue to try to reduce expenses and increase revenue, looking at volumes and productivity and other services, Comissiong said. They are also working on their audit and budget testimony for the V.I. Legislature next month.
SRMC has submitted new grant applications and is working with Juan F. Luis Hospital on a physician’s salary table for approval by the board. In response to a question from board member Christopher Finch, Comissiong said an oxygen generator and backup generator were approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior and they hope to get funds for other systems “that need upgrading.”
The Joint Commission approved SRMC’s suggestions to improve procedures in the laboratory after a Joint Commission inspection. None of the commission’s findings were critical or life-threatening, the CEO said.
Realizing they are in an old facility, recent repairs have been made to the air conditioning, chillers and other areas.
Daryl Smalls, executive director of the Territorial Hospitals Redevelopment Team, added that the new battery backup will tie into the battery when they build a new St. Thomas hospital, “ like a steppingstone.”
Smalls also updated the board on the ongoing construction projects to replace facilities destroyed in the 2017 hurricanes.
Cassava Gardens, a storage facility, is making progress despite a glitch with the V.I. Water and Power Authority. Smalls said he is talking to WAPA about the delay. He said he would share more information with the board during the executive session.
Clearing the five-acre area for parking and a 10,000-square-foot storage facility is moving forward. The storage facility will be used for medical records, medical waste, and maintenance operations, and the parking lot will hold 200 vehicles.
Smalls said the original JFL building will be under demolition by the end of the year and is “on pace for completion.” Bids have been submitted for designing the St. Thomas and St. Croix hospitals and submitted plans are being studied with the administrators.
The selection of a construction manager has been made and will help complete the final plans for the Myra Keating Smith Community Health Center. Next week, they will all meet with the SRMC and MKS administrators and architect to discuss.
The Charlotte Kimmelman Cancer Institute is on schedule to reopen in November and last weekend, several pieces of heavy equipment were delivered — air handling units, chillers, a diesel fuel tank and exhaust fans were installed in just one day.
“It was slated to take two days, but due diligence of the entire THRT, Jay Benton and their entire team, we were able to coordinate and get everything that was delivered to the site, installed in different points at the facility,” Smalls said.
The 28,000-gallon diesel fuel tank will supply all the diesel needs of the CKCI during any extended power interruption, Smalls explained. It is capable of powering the entire facility, he added.
Additionally, a water test was conducted to verify that the CKCI “envelope” is 100% sealed against water leaks.
Smalls shared a few photos of the equipment and weekend installations.
During the meeting, the board also approved seven new medical staff for SRMC and 12 renewals. Two medical doctors were approved for JFL.
The meeting was then adjourned into an executive session.
