Juan F. Luis Hospital Submits Plan Of Correction To CMS

ST. CROIX — The Juan F. Luis Hospital on Saturday announced that it had submitted a plan of correction on December 9 as requested by CMS, to stave off decertification. The P.O.C. details the corrective actions that J.F.L. said it will take to address the deficiencies that were identified during a complaint survey conducted by CMS on November 10.

In a 12-page document, CMS officials identified one condition-level deficiency related to the physical environment requirements, and five deficiencies overall from the inspection, according to hospital officials.

“There was potential for any patient or staff member to get injured from slips/falls, and injuries from falling materials, and exposure to/or acquiring fungal infections that enter the hospital from the front door, hemodialysis unit, emergency room, employee entrance, and patient hallways on all units,” reads the report.

The federal agency said it would terminate its contract with the hospital by February 27, if it failed to comply.

Territorial hospital board Chairman Nellon Bowry at a Thursday board meeting held at J.F.L., said that the government had identified some funds to help J.F.L. come into compliance with CMS participation requirements, but the release of said funds would need Senate approval. Furthermore, the identified funds can only accomplish part of the work needed to fix the deficiencies that CMS, with Mr. Bowry suggesting floating bonds — he suggested Governor Kenneth Mapp’s stalled $260 million capital project measure — as a possible path.

At the meeting, hospital CEO Richard Evangelista attempted to allay fears that the medical facility would be booted from the Medicare and Medicaid Services program, telling board members that the 12-page letter of deficiency the hospital received was “narrow and focused.”

Mr. Evangelista said CMS’s 90-day notice of termination is routinely issued after surveys such as those conducted at J.F.L.

“There is no threat of immediate termination, and no suggestion for a Systems Improvement Agreement,” Mr. Evangelista said. “Rather, CMS simply wants the hospital to provide a focused plan of correction to address the deficiencies noted.”