VI News Journalist 1 year ago
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SRMC’s Financial Position Concerns Senators

Schneider Regional Medical Center’s (SRMC) financial position alarmed lawmakers during a session held by the Senate’s Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services (HHHS) on May 3rd.

According to SRMC, the hospital currently owes $28 million in debt, which dates back to 2004, and operates at a deficit of $1.4 million each month. Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory described SRMC’s financial situation as one of “insolvency” and drew reference to the Territory’s woes with WAPA.

“We've been primarily focusing on what's happening at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority,” said Sen. Frett-Gregory. “But you have some challenges here that we really need to figure out how we are going to resolve them.”

Senator Ray Fonseca, chairman of the HHHS Committee, agreed and said the SRMC needs a “lifeline” and likely needed one a long time ago.

Despite challenges in cash-flow, and additionally, staffing, SRMC intends to expand its health services, said Attorney Tina Comissiong, SRMC’s CEO. Comissiong outlined two major goals during her testimony to lawmakers. The first included expanding vital healthcare services.

Last month, the hospital opened a behavioral health clinic on St. Thomas, called the SRMC Wellness Clinic. The clinic is staffed with a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist and other clinical staff.

Moving forward, Comissiong noted SRMC’s intent to reestablish its interventional cardiology services, which provides a wide range of services to patients suffering from heart attacks and other chronic cardiac conditions.

 “It will allow us to treat and manage other cardiac conditions right here on Island before they worsen,” said Comissiong. “Chronic heart conditions and heart disease affects a significant portion of our population and it's imperative that we find a way to provide these cardiology services so that our residents can receive the care they need at home.”

SRMC also aims to expand its services in the area of gastroenterology and hemodialysis services.

While the availability of health services has long troubled the Territory, so has the need for qualified staff to fill all areas of speciality. According to Comissiong, SRMC needs to add two emergency room physicians, one nephrologist, one psychiatrist, one internal medicine doctor, one orthopedic surgeon, one obstetrician gynecologist, two midwives, four CRNAs (certified registered nurse anesthetists) and one emergency room physician assistant.

Addressing nursing shortages remains a second major goal, according to Comissiong. Currently, SRMC has 71 RNs (registered nurses) on staff, which represents 60% of their total need. In the Emergency Room, SRMC has only 6 of the 21, or less than a third, of the permanent RN positions. In the ICU, SRMC has 7 of 13 of the permanent RN positions filled. On the medical unit, SRMC has seven of 12 permanent registered nurse slots filled which is 58% of the RN permanent complement it needs. On the surgical unit we have five of our 12 permanent RN slots filled which is only 42% required. Vacancies also exist at the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center.

Comissiong said she hopes that the new compensation program for nurses will help lure new applicants to fill these positions. Additionally, SRMC looks to new grads from the University of the Virgin Islands and potential recruits from Florida and Puerto Rico to fill the voids.



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