JFL Reports Significant Reduction in Traveling Nurses, Continued Services at Old Hospital Site

In a brief update to the Territorial Hospitals Governing Board on Wednesday, Douglas Koch, CEO of the Juan F Luis hospital on St. Croix noted that concerted efforts to reduce the facility’s reliance on contract workers is paying off.

Mr. Koch told board members that JFL is down to 17 traveling agency staffers from a high of 49, after a successful hiring campaign for nurses and other open positions. “Over the last several months we’ve filled another 13 RN positions, which is great to see…I know that was a major focus area,” Mr. Koch said.

He noted that traveling medical staff are still needed to work in “some of our allied health areas” including imaging and surgical services, and said that attention will be paid to recruiting for those positions as well so as to to fill them with in-house employees.

Meanwhile, an assessment of service standards, which Mr. Koch said was new for hospitals across the country, shows that according to his analysis, “while people are here they’re receiving good care but the overall perception is not where it needs to be.” Areas needing improvement include outpatient services, which he says are often impacted by periodic pressure on the inpatient side of things. Emergency room scores are also below the national average, Mr. Koch disclosed.