Health

At Town Hall, J.F.L. Officials Talk E.R., Psych Ward, Retaining Nurses, Partnerships And More

ST. CROIX -- Officials of the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center opened a town hall meeting held at the hospital on Tuesday evening, acknowledging some of the problems the hospital currently faces, including the drainage and A.C. issues. After opening remarks, Richard Evangelista, the facility's acting chief executive officer, took questions from the audience, responding to those he could and directing others to a team of hospital leaders who sat behind him. At the brief town hall, questions ranged from psychiatric ward details, to the hospital's efforts in retaining nurses. A community member even offered to help the hospital with simple tasks, which she said would allow J.F.L. to focus on the more taxing problems. On the psychiatric ward, Mr. Evangelista said the hospital's current facility was in the process of being renovated with a $1 million allocation from the government, an initiative he said began with his predecessor. The acting CEO said the architect beh...