UPDATE: AC system @ Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital reportedly fixed
BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) reported in late March that it had been forced to make adjustments to some of its services due to an ongoing issue with the AC system.
All elective surgeries were put on hold and only emergency procedures were being accommodated.
BVIHSA reported on its Facebook page on April 8, 2024, that “the expert technician from Johnson Corporation is now on-site at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, working diligently to resolve the air conditioning issue.”
BVIHSA has not yet provided an update as to whether the AC system has been fixed; however, reports are that the AC system was fixed on April 8, 2024, but it is going through a “monitoring” process.
See previous article published March 29, 2024
Elective surgeries on hold due to AC Unit issues @ Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital
The BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has said it has been forced to make adjustments to some of its services due to an ongoing issue with the air conditioning (AC) system at Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital.
It said due to a system control software issue of the AC chilling unit, the hospital is experiencing a temperature control issue that is resulting in on and off cooling cycles.
“As a result of these ongoing issues, adjustments will be made to some hospital services to ensure a more comfortable environment for patients, guests, and staff. Specifically, we regret to inform the public that all elective surgeries are temporarily on hold and only emergency procedures will be accommodated,” BVIHSA informed the public in a press release on March 28, 2024.
Additionally, BVIHSA said changes will be made to the pharmacy outpatient services. The public is advised to send in medication orders using WhatsApp at (284) 440-1726 or to call in refills at (284) 852-7556 for pick up on the following day between the hours of 9:00 AM and 12:00 Noon. It said this change in schedule will continue until further notice.
AC manufacturer ‘engaged’
As a result of this situation, the BVIHSA is asking the public for its patience as it maneuvers this technical matter.
“We are pleased to report that the system manufacturer has been engaged, and the required parts and software have already been ordered. As soon as the parts arrive in the Territory, a technician from the manufacturer will travel to the BVI to facilitate its installation.
“We apologize for any inconvenience these adjustments may cause and assure the public that we are making every effort to rectify this situation as soon as possible,” BVIHSA stated.
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64 Responses to “UPDATE: AC system @ Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital reportedly fixed”
Glad to know they’re finally going to get it fixed. I just hope that it is treated as a matter of urgency .
A safe and healthful VI residents should be the Number one, Numero uno, focus of the VI government. This should include putting a qualified, and demonstrated experienced leader in charge of the VI health system and not just a body who won a popularity contest at the polls. The VIHSA Board should be staffed by qualified members, not cronies, political paybacks ( serving on boards should be voluntary with no monetary compensation But more time), etc.
Moreover, the D. Orlando Smith Hospital , the lone public hospital in the 59 square, 36 island chain (15 of which are inhabited), should be staffed with qualified staff, equipment, equippage, etc. Let’s talk about goods and services required to keep the hospital functioning effectively. The VI is remote from major markets, so Just in Time( JIT) delivery is not a viable option. Consequently, the hospital facility management team should maintain a high-low limit on critical parts for equipment so as to prevent /minimize any equipment downtime. Further, the hospital facility management team should have and execute a robust preventative maintenance inspection (PMI) and other maintenance inspections and repair, including an Evidence Base Maintenance (EBM) program. What is an EBM?
Evidence-based maintenance (EBM) is an analysis of evidence, ie, failures to monitor the maintenance effectiveness and effect improvement changes.
Maintenance in most hospitals deal only the with failures, repair procedures and parts. They rarely if ever look consider information about the measures to prevent further problems. The focus is to get the system up and running again. Studying the failure and possibility of improvement, improves effectiveness, reliability and availability of medical equipment. .Further, medical equipment at the hospital should be serviced/repaired by trained and certified personnel. Each piece of equipment should be tagged as by whom certified the repair..This is a huge responsibility and person(s) should be adequately compensated.
So much to say but I will sign off here for today.
all of the residents needs to know that the health care system is in good condition
an administration spending thousands of the tax money on entertainment while other elements of this society falling apart
there is factor in good governance called priority spending
How did we get here, and why?
Moreover, timely and properly maintained facilities prevent, and reduce breakdowns; , provides reliable services, maintains an expected level of production, reduces operating costs, etc. However, effective maintenance and repair requires a programmatic approach, adequate investment, etc.
Maintenance experts and professionals typically suggest that facilities owners should annually budget an average of 2-5% of plant/asset replacement value for maintenance. If you built it, you own it ( facilities ), and must invest on maintenance and execute the maintenance or become a prisoner to frequent and untimely breakdowns:failures, frustrations, embarrassments , increasing costs, poor quality services, etc.
All those wasted money could have bought a back-up AC unit to serve critical areas.
Don't mention the wasteful spending buying unnecessary equipment that are now stashed away upstairs.
This embarrassing commentary on a critical issue at our sole public hospital generated much feedback with three of comments standing out ( this is not a diss to the others): GateKeeper, E. Leonard, and Facility Expert. The ministry of health and BVIHSA( who is chairman of the board?) can mine these three and get a running/sprinting start on improvement. Nevertheless, it puzzles me that most of the info is so basic to the facility management profession as to why they are not being done?? Is it lack of knowledge, lack of experience, poor planning, poor leadership and management, not having the right people in the right place, doing things right, just a job to people who don’t give a rat’s @$$ about the lack quality service and impact on the community, lack of resources, etc? Another blogger in another commentary asked the Premier to break out the guava stick. The playing the Mr. Nice guy with the polished flowery language is not working. Time to crack the whip for the public good. Public sector leadership is not for choir boys/girls who wants to be loved by everyone. It is a job for leaders to deliver the best services to the most people at the least cost. And to do that means whooping some @$% at times. Our parents beat us only when needed. It is call tough medicine; it may not taste good but it is good. Anyone who is worried more about losing one’s job than making tough decisions and doing the right things for the majority of people will in the end lose their job. You can take that to the bank.
Our Hospital have issues
The Dump @ Pockwood Pond have issues for years
Public water have issues
Public Roads have issues
Sewage have issues
EPIDEMIC FROM THE FREE FLOWING SEWERAGE AND ITS SMELL WHICH HAS BECOME THE NORM ????
Being equipped with a thermostat in you let's you control the rooms temperature and climate. Have a central system throughout the hospital is a flawed design. For one you want each person who's staying as a patient to feel comfortable not cold or hot and by not have individual thermostats in each room was a crazy person's idea. I could understand having central air in the general areas by also in the private rooms defeats the propose