The Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center announced late Friday that it was temporarily suspending admissions to its Behavioral Health Unit, effective immediately, and closing it for an estimated 90 days.
According to the hospital statement, the measure is being taken "to improve the quality of care in the unit and to ensure continued CMS compliance after February 13, 2013." The release did not state outright that the unit would be closed; nonetheless, it said current patients will be moved elsewhere.
CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is the agency that certifies U.S. medical facilities for meeting required standards of care. JFL failed in 11 of 23 categories a year ago and is under an agreement to correct those deficiencies. Failure to do so could result in JFL losing the right to participate in Medicare and Medicaid.
The statement did not indicate why the hospital took the step of closing admissions to the unit, or what precipitated the action now. Issued by JFL spokeswoman Xaulanda H. Simmonds-Emmanuel, the release said the hospital will institute a multifaceted plan that includes but is not limited to the following:
- Inpatient admissions to the JFL Behavioral Health Unit will be suspended for a 90-day period. The unit accommodates six patient beds, with an average of 15 admissions per month.
- Complete evaluation and renovation of the Behavioral Health Unit will be undertaken to improve the quality of care provided by the unit.
- Recruitment of additional staff to meet the current six adult bed census and addition of two adolescent beds to meet the increasing mental health needs of the community.
The hospital also said suspending admissions will allow for renovations of the physical plant and recruitment of additional staff. The release said the action will allow the hospital to better meet a growing need for mental health services in times of increasing stress.
"It is anticipated that an increasing need for inpatient behavioral services will be seen during these tough economic times where individuals and families are facing increased levels of stress. As such, it is imperative that the hospital and staff are prepared to address these needs so that JFL can continue to provide the quality care the patients deserve," the statement said.
JFL said it will work closely with patients currently in the unit and their families to provide safe transport to health care facilities within and outside the territory.
Patients arriving at the ER will be triaged and assessed as usual. Once a medical determination has been made that they need inpatient services, a transfer order will be executed for those patients to receive services at Schneider Regional Medical Center or an appropriate off-island facility, the release said.
