Health

JFL North Delayed Again; Nurses Give Hospital Leadership 30 Days to Evacuate 'Failing Structure' for Modular Facility

Nurses have given the leadership of the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center 30 days to expedite the move to the new modular facility called JFL North, citing “dire, stressful environmental conditions” owing to failing infrastructure.  “VISNA requests the evacuation of JFL and activation of JFL North within 30 days,” wrote Yvette Rivera, president of the V.I State Nurse Association, speaking during a Committee on Heath, Hospitals & Human Services hearing Friday. JFL North has been hit by yet another delay that has set its opening date back by at least a month. The facility is now anticipated to have a start date sometime in November. Darryl Smalls, executive director of Facilities & Capital Development for the Territorial Hospital Redevelopment Team (THRT), said the postponement was a result of manufacturing delays with the world’s steel shortage, a major component which is needed to erect a 260,000-gallon water storage tank that is to provide water to the building.  “In June 2...