Vialet Salutes Schneider Hospital For Passing Inspections

ST. THOMAS – The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Hospital and Human Services said he was “exceptionally proud” that the Schneider Regional Medical Center passed inspections by two health accreditation and certification bodies.

Sen. Kurt Vialet said he was “exceptionally proud of Chief Executive Officer Bernard Wheatley and the entire staff of the Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) for displaying great leadership, professionalism and competence.”

“Each district only has one hospital,” Vialet said. “It is not an option for either of them to fail.”

Vialet said the Joint Commission – a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that accredits hospitals and hospital laboratories as a condition of licensure and the receipt of Medicaid reimbursement – conducted an unannounced survey of the SRMC and reported afterwards that the facility meets its standards. The Joint Commission accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

Shortly after that, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (DMS) made a surprise five-day inspection of the St. Thomas hospital and announced at the end of it that the SMRC met all requirements to maintain its Medicaid and Medicare certification, he said, adding that the committee’s own planned visits of the hospital were postponed due to the inspections.

The St. Croix senator said he encouraged Wheatley to share his experience with his colleagues at the Juan Luis Hospital “to assist with their upcoming CMS survey.” Vialet said he told Wheatley and his staff “it is time for SMRC to tap into medical tourism and market its services to become the premier destination of the Caribbean.”

The committee continues its tours of health care facilities in the territory with a visit to the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center.