VI MCH maintains that direct services are offered through Title V when no other coverage is available.  Title V funded programs that include direct clinical care benefits to clients provide information on available local and federal resources that can help meet their health care needs. As the payor of last resort, it is important that MCH ensure that clients served were not covered or reimbursed through another provider.  A memorandum of agreement was established between the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) and the Maternal and Child Health Division for the purpose of providing rapid access to quality health care service to the MCH population.

VI MCH has developed a long-standing relationship with the territory’s hospital to conduct hearing screenings to all newborn babies in the territory.  The EHDI program goes into the hospitals daily to screen newborn babies for hearing.  If babies are missed, the nursery provides the contact information for EHDI so families can schedule an appointment to come to MCH.

Effect of Coronavirus on the territory’s infrastructure

The coronavirus pandemic has been disruptive for all and sadly, devastating, and difficult for many.  As of August 19, 2021, there have been 5,594 Covid-19 confirmed cases and 45 deaths in the territory.

With the health care system focused on testing and treating the coronavirus, adaptations in care delivery were made quickly with patients and multiple avenues was provided for access to care while it was unsafe or impossible for patients to come to clinical spaces.  Telemedicine has emerged as a viable option to provide treatment while protecting the clinical staff and clients.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is reinforcing critical public health messaging like symptom monitoring infection prevention and ways to avoid the spread of disease into our territory.  By following the health department’s guidance, Virgin Islands residence can keep themselves and families safe if they encounter someone with Covid-19 or other viral respiratory pathogens like the flu.

The VI have engaged in a series of campaign to stop the spread of Covid-19. The Governor’s office has implemented several Covid-19 vaccine incentives to encourage families to take the Covid-19 vaccine to stop the spread. 

VI Health Care Facilities

The United States Virgin Islands has an organized primary/preventative and public health system.  There are two main hospitals, one located on the island of St. Thomas and one on the island of St. Croix. The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center located on the island of St. John serves the $5,000 St. John residents.

Families and children of the USVI can address their health care needs through several different facets of the USVI healthcare system.  The selection made by families may be influenced by level of income, access to transportation, level of education and language barriers. The healthcare systems of the VI which must address the needs of the community consist of the Virgin Islands Department of Health (VIDOH), the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Frederiksted Health Center, Inc.  (FHC) on St. Croix and the St. Thomas East End Medical Center (STEEMCC) on the island of St. Thomas: two hospitals, the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center (JFL) and the Schneider Regional Center (SRMC), many private providers and 382 licensed medical professionals (excluding nurses).

Roy Lester Schneider Regional Medical Hospital (RLS)

The Roy Lester Schneider Hospital is a 169-bed acute care facility located on St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.  Since 1982, it has served the residents of St. Thomas and nearby St. John, St. Croix residents who have required its services, as well as 1.2 million visitors who arrive by air and cruise ships each year.  Meeting the health care needs of its community has required constant expansion of medical services, and recruitment of highly qualified and board-certified medical professionals.

The hospital is a popular provider of choice for the USVI community, and, given the services now offered, it is the convenient option for many patients from throughout the Eastern Caribbean region who are referred here for treatment.

The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center is a comprehensive primary healthcare facility located on St. John, For residents and the thousands who visit each year, the center provides 24-hour emergency services and outpatient clinics Monday through Friday.  Myrah Keating Smith Community offers high-risk OB/GYN, well woman examinations including PAP smears, complete pelvic exams, pre and post-natal care. The facility is staffed to provide many other services, including adult medicine, pediatrics, radiology, ophthalmology, laboratory, and nutrition counselling.

Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center (JFL)

The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical center (JFL) is composed of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital, the only hospital on the island of St. Croix, and the Virgin Islands cardiac center.  JFL offers general inpatient and emergency care, behavioral assessment and outpatient diagnostic services (laboratory, radiology).  The Interventional Cardiology services are no longer available.

In 2018 Juan Luis hospital was operating at 50 percent capacity. In 2019, JFL capacity increased to 52 and will increase to 80 by the summer of 2020. In December of 2019 JFL began accepting dialysis patients credited to the new modular dialysis trailers the hospital received.   JFL received the full modular hospital which includes a four modular operating room. 

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

The Territory has two Federally Qualified Health Center, St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation, Inc. (STEEMCC) in the STT/STJ district and Frederiksted Health Center (FHC) in the St. Croix.

STEEMCC provides comprehensive primary health care service on the Eastern end of the island on St. Thomas.  They offer primary health care services in behavioral health, family planning, women’s health, men’s health, obstetrics, pediatrics, senior care, adult and pediatric dental care and nutrition services.  Screenings are also provided for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, TB and breast, cervical and prostate cancer.

Frederiksted Health Center operates five sites on the island of St. Croix.  Three sites offer comprehensive primary care services, Ingerborg Nesbitt Clinic, the first service site, on Strand Street, Frederiksted; North Shore site in La Grande Princess; Christiansted; and one mid-island at Sion Farm Shopping.  One satellite clinic is based at the St. Croix Educational Complex, a public high school and the fifth site offers.  Services provided at primary care clinics include medical, behavioral health and dental care, and serve all ages, from prenatal to the elderly.

It is extremely important that the FQHCs are strategically located and accessible by public transportation and focus on providing primary care to low-income families who fall below the federal poverty level and reside in medically underserved communities.  USVI vulnerable population benefit from the wide range of payment options offered by the FQHC’s, including offering a sliding fee scale and accepting patients covered through private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and self-payment. 

Virgin Islands Department of Health (VIDOH)

The Department of Health functions as both the state regulatory agency and the territorial public health agency for the U.S. Virgin Islands.  As set forth by the Virgin Islands Code, Title 3 and 19, the Department of Health (DOH) has direct responsibility for conducting programs of preventative medicine, including special programs in Maternal Child Health, Family Planning, Environmental Sanitation, Mental Health and Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention. Many services and programs provided by the VIDOH through their public health clinics are used by families and children in the territory. The VIDOH clinical services offered to the USVI community include Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Community Health, HIV/STD, and the Women Infant and Children program (WIC). DOH is also responsible for health promotion and protection, regulation of health care providers and facilities, and policy development and planning, as well as maintaining the vital statistics for the population.

Department of Health provides Emergency Medical Services, issues birth and death certificates, perform environmental services and conducts health research and surveys.  The Department is also responsible for regulating and licensing health care providers and facilities and assumes primary responsibility for the health of the community in the event of a disaster.

In 2019, a modular version of Department of Health’s Charles Harwood Complex (CHC) opened.   Due to major damages cause by the 2017 hurricanes, the complex closed in 2018. The modular is a parred down version of the CHC and houses the entire DOH St. Croix programs, services, and clinics.