As the world continues to navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19, Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center Hospital (JFL) provides this update on the measures and additional protocols it has implemented to help ensure a safe environment for its patients, caregivers, staff and community, which include:
All persons entering JFL are required to wear a mask.
Visitation remains restricted.
Physicians and staff are screened daily and wear the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.
Additional cleaning and disinfection measures are being performed at the nursing stations, waiting rooms and common areas.
All healthcare workers providing direct patient care are expected to wear masks for all patient interactions, to use gloves and proper hand hygiene, and to disinfect all surfaces in between patient consults.
Patients who are symptomatic (a low-grade fever coupled with a cough, respiratory complaints, fatigue, or muscle aches) or exposures (travel to places with viral spread or contact with someone who tested positive) are separated from the rest of the patient population in all areas, but specifically the Emergency Room and the Intensive Care Unit.
Whenever there is an employee that suspects that they may have been exposed, the employee is tested at JFL through Employee Health.
Additional precautions are taken to sanitize the affected team member’s work station and any known team members that may have been in close contact are notified.
JFL realizes that some community members may have further questions about coming to the hospital for pressing health issues, as discussed below:
Emergency Department – Do Not Delay Seeking Critical Care
The Emergency Department is open and ready to serve, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week, to assist persons with emergency medical conditions. Individuals experiencing serious injuries or medical symptoms such as chest pain, numbness, difficulty breathing or mental confusion should call 9-1-1 or go to JFL’s emergency department. It could save your life.
High touch areas in the Emergency Department are sanitized regularly and patients are separated and triaged based on their symptoms.
The hospital is fully operational. The hospital is monitoring for symptoms in patients and implementing isolation protocols, as necessary.
JFL resumed elective surgeries and outpatient procedures, on June 23. Before resuming these services, the first step was to ensure adequate resources are available. According to Interim Chief Executive Officer Dyma Williams, “Our resources have remained stable, making us well-positioned to care for patients’ elective surgical needs. We thank the community for partnering with us in this effort.”
In preparation for the return of elective surgeries, JFL leadership developed a plan for safely delivering care in the surgical setting and developing new safety protocols for the safety of patients undergoing procedures involving anesthesia, which include:
All persons entering JFL are required to wear a mask.
All patients are screened for COVID-19 and are required to self-quarantine until their scheduled procedure. Elective procedures are postponed if a patient tests positive.
Pre-operative surgical/procedural anesthesia interviews with the patient are completed by phone, with anesthesia physical assessments completed the day of the procedure.
Visitation remains prohibited. In order to limit the number of people in the hospital waiting areas, one support person is permitted for patients age 17 and younger, laboring mothers, NICU patients and patients who are incapacitated.
Physicians and staff are screened daily and wear the recommended personal protective equipment at all times.
Additional cleaning and disinfection measures in the waiting rooms and common areas.
Patients who wish to schedule their elective surgery or outpatient procedure should contact their surgeon/physician.
As the COVID-19 environment continues to evolve, JFL continues to take proactive, measures to ensure the safety of all patients, staff and the community. Effective April 19, 2020, patient visitors were no longer permitted until further notice.
There are exceptions made for birthing mothers, NICU patients, end of life/compassionate care and parents of pediatric patients.
In these cases, visitors must wear a mask; only one visitor will be allowed. Visitors are subject to temperature checks and screening upon arrival at the hospital’s main lobby. Individuals will be prohibited from entering the hospital if they:
Refuse to complete the temperature screening
Refuse to wear a mask
Have been in contact within the last 14 days with a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
Have had a cough or flu-like symptoms, including sore throat, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or loss of taste or smell in the last 24 hours
Felt feverish, experienced chills or had a fever of 100F or greater in the last 48 hours
Persons with travel history within the last 14 days will not be permitted to proceed within the hospital.
If a visitor begins to show signs and symptoms of COVID-19, you will be asked to depart promptly and notify the V.I. Department of Health (DOH).
Any visitor who causes disruption or fails to comply with the new visitor protocol will be immediately removed from hospital premises.
For the safety of the community and JFL staff, clients who have billing concerns may call 778-6311 and ask for billing; for those clients who are requesting medical records, please ask for extension 2883 or e-mail eherbert@jflusvi.org. JFL is asking for clients to call or e-mail prior to coming into the hospital because their request may be handled over the phone or by e-mail. If a client’s concern cannot be handled over the phone or e-mail, with pre-notification, JFL will be able to ensure that an in-person visit is efficient.
The CDC recommends individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures including:
Wear a mask!
Social distancing – avoid crowds and crowded spaces, handshaking and hugging, and deliberately stay at least six feet away from other people.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 70 to 95 percent alcohol.
Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
Stay home and away from others when you are sick with any respiratory disease symptoms.
Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center is actively monitoring and responding to all recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Virgin Islands Department of Health.
According to Interim Chief Executive Officer Dyma Williams, “JFL remains committed to meeting the healthcare needs of the St. Croix community. We all must continue to work together to flatten the curve.”
For more information on COVID-19, visit the V.I. Department of Health’s website at www.doh.vi.gov or text COVID19USVI to 888777.
