Bryan declares public exigency for Juan F. Luis Hospital

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. issued an executive order declaring a state of public exigency for Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center, according to a Government House statement published Oct. 17, 2019.

The statement said Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 caused water intrusion and physical damage at the St. Croix hospital, leading to the closure of the third floor, which housed medical and surgical units, a reduction in operating rooms from three to one, and a drop in inpatient bed capacity from 80 to 46. The hospital also lost outpatient dialysis and interventional cardiology services.

Government House said a temporary modular hospital had been procured by a previous hospital administration, but furniture, fixtures and equipment were removed from FEMA's initial project worksheets in December 2017, delaying procurement needed to operate the facility.

The statement said the exigency declaration was intended to speed procurement and allow emergency repairs to the intensive care unit so it could reopen. Government House said hospital officials were working with the Office of Disaster Recovery to equip the modular hospital for a planned opening in May 2020.

The statement also said Bryan toured the hospital facility.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-tours-temporary-modular-hospital/