ST. CROIX — A hemodialysis patient who asked not to be identified to protect his privacy contacted WTJX about the substandard conditions in the Hemodialysis Unit at the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
He reported sweltering conditions, inconsistent medical supplies, inadequate staff, and a lack of proper syringes for saline bags, requiring nurses to manually squeeze them — raising serious questions about the state of care. He noted that it is not the first time the air conditioner in the unit has broken down.
“It’s very hot and uncomfortable,” he said, noting that fans only help a little because they circulate hot air.
The patient said the hospital’s maintenance crew has repeatedly fixed the A/C in the Hemodialysis Unit but the repairs don’t last.
“It might be working for a couple months and then it goes out again,” he said.
The patient said the A/C works in other parts of the hospital, but it had been out of order in the Hemodialysis Unit since last Saturday. On that day, he said three technicians called in sick and some patients did not report for their scheduled dialysis. He said he was told the hospital is awaiting a specific part needed to make a permanent repair.
Jerry Smith, chair of the Virgin Islands Government Hospital & Health Facilities Corporation, also known as the territorial hospital board, confirmed that a part needed to repair the A/C unit has been sourced from a vendor in Puerto Rico.
“The board and I recognize the impact this failure has had on patients and staff, particularly in a critical area like hemodialysis,” he said in a text. “We have been assured that immediate action is being taken to restore proper conditions as quickly as possible.”
Aniah John, hospital spokesperson, said in a statement provided to WTJX that the air conditioning issue is due to a recent mechanical failure that has been ongoing for “less than a week.” She noted repairs are in progress, and temporary measures, including fans, adjusted patient placement, and use of additional dialysis stations, are in place to improve comfort and reduce strain.
“Our leadership team visited the unit on April 10 to assess conditions firsthand and implement immediate adjustments to reduce congestion and improve the care environment,” according to the statement. “We recognize that recent challenges have impacted patients and staff. Repairs to the air conditioning system are underway, with a new system expected by the end of the month.”
The temperature is only part of the problem.
“Sometimes, we don’t have supplies,” the patient said.
For instance, he said he has been provided with a tissue and even a diaper in place of the dialysis armrest pad used to absorb any blood if there’s leakage from the needle site.
“Sometimes they don’t have the simple thing as a Band-Aid,” he said.
During hemodialysis, the patient said blood is taken out of the body, filtered through a machine, and then returned, requiring a “rinse-back” process at the end of treatment. Normally, he said this is done using a syringe filled with saline to flush the dialysis lines. However, he said that when syringes are not available, staff instead use the saline bag attached to the dialysis machine to perform what is described as a “force flush.” He said this involves manually squeezing the saline bag so the fluid is pushed through the dialysis tubing and into the patient’s bloodstream to flush the line. He said this method delivers more saline than a standard syringe would and is used as a substitute when proper flushing syringes are unavailable.
John addressed the concern about the lack of basic supplies.
“Like many healthcare systems, we are navigating supply chain challenges and are taking steps to strengthen reliability, so our clinicians have the resources needed to provide high-quality care,” the statement read. “Patient care continues without interruption, with specific concerns being addressed directly.”
Despite the lack of supplies, the patient said he has never been turned away from receiving his treatment because the technicians and nurses try their best to make accommodations.
“We always get through with our dialysis,” he said. “But right now, it’s uncomfortable. It’s very uncomfortable with the heat.”
