Luis Hospital is the subject of a Federal investigation as inspectors from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services swooped down on the St. Croix facility. According to a statement, three officials arrived at Luis Hospital to conduct an investigation. The hospital has been the subject of controversy for some time.
But Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Dr. Kendall Griffith says he has “no idea what the complaint is” (sic). According to reports, the CMS has already indicated that the hospital was in danger of losing its certification.
In November 2011, an inspection revealed numerous deficiencies at the hospital and officials signed various agreements with the CMS with a view to remedying these deficiencies. To date the hospital is still not in compliance with the regulatory and other frameworks to keep its certification.
However, this week, the hospital was embroiled in controversy after a scheduled payday was missed for employees last Friday , the VI Government gave the hospital a cash advance and the CEO indicated an eight per cent (8%) pay cut was in the works for all employees. Further the chief financial officer and 14 other members of staff were dismissed. The terminations left the hospital without financial management and the hospital’s assistant chief financial officer has resigned with immediate effect.
Under the USVI laws, the CEO can appoint and remove a Medical Director and Chief Financial Officer and can only do so after a consultative process with the respective District Boards. This is the third set of dismissals at the embattled hospital which owes $42 million to vendors. Staff from HR, the Maintenance Department and Housekeeping accounted for the bulk of the lay-offs. The hospital is said to have only one day’s worth of operational cash to hand.
In another twist, the nine members have not met the quorum requirement and as such do not have the quorum to conduct any business.
Griffith maintains that he had discussions with the acting hospital Chairman before terminating the CFO.
“I spoke with the acting chair,” Griffith said. “He was in agreement. He discussed it with the district board.”
According to, Government House spokesman Jean Greaux Jr., he and Gov. John deJongh Jr. spoke with Griffith and hospital managers during an extended visit on Wednesday and they were brought up to date on the layoffs but there were no specifications made.
“His greatest concern is that the hospital can continue to provide quality medical care to the community,” Greaux said of the Governor.
“We do have a plan. I’m not at liberty to discuss yet,” he said. Griffith also said that he had not received any complaints regarding the eight per cent cuts by staff and that not even the Unions had made any overtures to him and the embattled hospital. According to reports, the 8 percent pay cut that all V.I. government employees, including hospital employees, experienced for two years prior – full salaries were restored in July – was done legislatively.
The Unions (up to press time) have not commented on this cut that Griffith proposes.
Griffith told sections of the VI press that he is attempting to make positive changes at Luis Hospital. The hospital has been intense scrutiny for years.
