The Schneider Regional Medical Center and Juan F. Luis Hospital each received $10 million in government funding to address critical operational expenses, hospital officials announced during Wednesday evening’s Territorial Hospital Board meeting. The financial support comes as SRMC prepares to submit a new austerity plan within 30 days.
“Our plans include staffing realignment, limiting hiring to only critical clinical positions, renegotiating contracts and continuing to reduce overtime expenses for cost savings,” said Tina Comissiong, chief executive officer of SRMC. She emphasized that the hospital’s top priorities remain meeting payroll and maintaining a supply of essential resources.
Comissiong reported that upgrades to the hospital’s outdated Meditech operating system are underway, with the administration awaiting a timeline from the vendor. Efforts to expand access to online patient records are also in progress. She noted that staffing shortages in anesthesiology, pediatrics, the emergency room, and interventional cardiology remain a concern for consistent patient care and safety.
Two new hires have joined the accounting department, and staffing in the laboratory has increased. Following a recent survey by The Joint Commission, SRMC’s lab received no critical or life-threatening findings. A corrective plan is being developed, and a full hospital survey is expected by the end of September.
The hospital has resumed its search for a contractor to complete its X-ray room. Although a Request for Proposal was submitted last month, no bids were received. Comissiong said they are now pursuing direct solicitations.
In a separate update, Daryl Smalls, executive director of the Territorial Hospital Redevelopment Team, provided construction timelines for major projects. The five-acre parking area and administrative building at Juan F. Luis Hospital are expected to be completed and operational by December.
Smalls said that nonclinical operations, including medical records, may move from JFL North to the Cassava Gardens storage facility by June. He added that contractors will visit both hospitals in the next two weeks in preparation for bidding on the reconstruction of facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Bidders are now required to notify Smalls of their intent to submit proposals.
The Charlotte Kimmelman Cancer Institute on St. Thomas is nearing completion, with window installation underway and the roof 90 percent finished.
Also at the meeting, the board approved several staffing matters: certification of three physicians, approval of 10 tele-radiology medical personnel for St. Croix for two years, three physicians for SRMC for one year, and re-approval of five physicians for three-year terms.
The Finance Committee presented the 2026 budget and a three-year financial plan for review in executive session, where two procurement requests and a resolution were also scheduled for discussion.
The next Territorial Hospital Board meeting is set for May 21 at 5 p.m.
