As a result of COVID-19 and the need to ensure the safety of visitors and staff of the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center (JFL), visitors and visitation hours have been revised to better care for patients and reduce the spread of COVID-19:
General visitation hours have been revised to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., unless a parent or guardian of a pediatric patient or infant.
Prior to being allowed to enter the facility, each visitor will be screened.
o If sick, have a fever or a confirmed case of COVID-19, you cannot visit or accompany a patient. Contact the Department of Health at 712-6699.
o Patients may only have one visitor with them during visiting hours
o No visitors under the age of 18 or over the age of 65 will be allowed to visit patients.
o Persons with any immunocompromise will not be allowed to visit patients.
o Persons who are pregnant will not be allowed to visit patients.
o Visitors must wash their hands (or use sanitizer) before entering and after leaving rooms and hospital buildings.
Isolation patients will be allowed only one visitor at a time for up to two hours per day.
Visitors will be given special protective masks, gloves and gowns that must be worn at all times. No personal items, bags or cell phones will be allowed into the room of isolated patients. As such, all items must be left in your vehicle. These measures are taken to protect the spread of COVID-19 because it is known that this infectious disease lives on surfaces for prolonged periods of time. Following these changes will reduce the transmission of disease to visitors and their friends and family outside the hospital.
If a visitor begins to show signs and symptoms of COVID-19, people will be asked to depart promptly and notify the V.I. Department of Health.
Any visitor that causes disruption or fails to comply with the new visitor protocol will be immediately removed from hospital premises.
According to acting CEO Dyma Williams, “JFL remains committed to meeting the healthcare needs of the St. Croix community. As such, we have implemented the triage, management standards and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the global leader of infectious disease management and the Centers for Disease Control in the United States (CDC) on the national level. The JFL team has also worked closely with the Bryan/ Roach Administration and Delegate to Congress Stacy Plaskett to supplement the necessary, additional disposable resources and equipment necessary for patient care, based on known standards for COVID-19 patient care. We thank the administration for joining in JFL’s preparation for COVID-19.”
JFL is also engaged in ongoing collaborative efforts with critical stakeholders to include, but not limited to: the V.I. Department of Health, V.I. Department of Human Services, V.I. National Guard, V.I. Port Authority, V.I. Fire Services, and VITEMA, as well as private organizations such as AEROMD.
JFL’s front line team members continue in ongoing training for donning and doffing of special protective gear to protect themselves from infection exposure and attendance at internal team meetings to educate and inform team members of COVID-19 updates.
For more information on COVID-19, visit the V.I. Department of Health’s website: www.doh.vi.gov or text COVID19USVI to 888777.
