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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsJFL Reopening Could Be Delayed Until May 2020

JFL Reopening Could Be Delayed Until May 2020

Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital in March 2018. (Bill Kossler photo)
Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital in March 2018. (Bill Kossler photo)

Dyma B. Williams, acting chief executive officer of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital, and her staff told Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and members of his executive team Wednesday that the projected opening date of the modular replacement for the hurricane-damaged hospital may have to be pushed back to May 2020.

Work on the physical structure of the modular hospital to take the place of the facility is progressing, according to a news release from the hospital. But the scheduled opening may be delayed due to the prior hospital administration’s failure to procure the furnishings, fixtures and medical equipment, according to the current hospital administration.

The current administration of the hospital has been working since late 2018 to secure those needs

JFL has requested Bryan’s assistance in utilizing the territory’s resources to expedite this process. Bryan expressed his support for the hospital’s request, the news release said.

“We have to move to secure the best healthcare access we can as quickly as we can,” Bryan said. “We recognize the importance and value of supporting access to healthcare for all Virgin Islanders. We support …  Williams in stabilizing the infrastructure of the hospital and completing these projects as soon as possible.”

Bryan also said his administration is lobbying to address the 100 percent Medicaid funding for the territory, which expires in September. Members of his administration were in Washington D.C. Thursday testifying before Congress for the Medicaid funding.

Due to the delays in getting the modular hospital online, JFL staff has executed temporary repairs on the existing hospital to enhance the quality of the patient and employee experience. With the support of the Bryan Administration, JFL intends to utilize Public Finance Authority funds allocated by the Legislature for capital improvements to complete repairs. These include temporary repair or replacement of air handlers damaged in the storm and repairs to the air handler room and the electrical motor control room, which were deferred initially in anticipation of the demolition of the hospital.

“The continued collaboration and support of the administration is essential to the success of the hospital during this extended recovery period,” Williams said. “We are working diligently to ensure that our current facility meets the healthcare needs of our community, until we transfer to the temporary modular hospital.”

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11 COMMENTS

  1. What a damn liar ? That failure falls 100% on Angie Ravier the acting C00. Now the incompetent idiots are trying to blame someone for their stupidly.. The Governor needs to immediately bring a qualified Ceo and get these unqualified morons out. They ate not qualified to run a hospital and have no clue what their doing.

  2. Hospital CEOs typically have around 15 years of experience in health management prior to becoming a CEO, with approximately five years of those years in a senior management position. A lot of CEOs tend to hold the position of COO prior to their appointment as CEO. The current acting CEO at JFL has ZERO YEARS experience and NO advanced degrees in healthcare administration. The only reason she got the job is because she is friends with the board member who appointed her.

  3. It is very easy to point fingers at the previous administration, I am flabbergasted by the statement from the ACEO , when she have the main person responsible for that task, the ACOO, who at the time was the Person responsible for all property and procurement process and who numerous time met with the FEMA team as well as CMA and Witt O’Brien with the information and amount needed to replace all equipments and furnitures from the hospital due to exposure to MOLD.
    The decision to replace all furnitures, equipments was approved by the board at that time. The list of equipment was due exactly on the day the board decided to let go the CEO and CFO. Who followed up and who drop the ball, is not on the previous administration but on you ACEO. To come out now and point fingers on other is a coward way to run from taking responsibility as the ACEO.
    The new acting team from JFLH is quick to blame others, but quick to take credits from the previous administration.

  4. “The list of equipment was due exactly on the day that the board decided to let go the CEO and the CFO go.” Translation? “ I had been screwing up when you fired me, and I am countering by saying that I would have done everything you had wanted me to do on the day you finally fired me..”
    So Wanda Ruben in her own words is publicly admitting that she was a screw up.
    Even her lame excuse doesn’t cut it.
    Congratulations JFL Board for realizing your mistake and separating this unstable woman who used to be screaming at every radio station, but shame on you for taking so long to do it. The people of the VI will suffer until 2020 because of this.