Atkins says the management and staff of the institution are still as caring as when SJH first opened its doors. The CEO says she would like to see community involvement and volunteer work reinvigorated at the hospital as the staff continues to provide quality care.
“The hospital has traditionally done, and we will not change, we will not turn persons away for their inability to pay. I think this is one of the reasons why there is such a great thrust by the Ministry of Health and the Government of Saint Lucia towards Universal Health Coverage. The Hospital..does not in any way put any punitive measures on persons who are not able to pay at that point in time when they are accessing care,” Atkins says. She explains that SJH is continuing its practice of creating payment plans for its patients. At present, she adds, patients are able to make contributions towards their bills at the hospital with no interest rates.
“Contributions can be made towards the bill. We also come to an arrangement with them in terms of how they would be able to settle [their bills]. We do payment plans, we give options on how you can pay,” Atkins assures the public.
She recalls, “St. Jude used to do it before to the point where farmers and fishers had the option of paying with produce.” While this practice was discontinued some years ago, she clarified, the management of the hospital is in discussion to develop means and ways for patients to settle their dues. “These practices haven’t happened at St. Jude in a while but these are some of the conversations we are having at the management level. When it used to happen, [the hospital] used to receive more than it was owed,” she explains.
The CEO disclosed that the management of the hospital is excited about the completion of the original St Jude site. While acknowledging that a date for the opening of the new hospital has not yet been announced, Atkins says a commissioning team should be assembled in the coming months. “Over the next few months - and I don’t want to preempt discussions that have not been tabled at the board - we should begin to see hirings of the commissioning teams…to see efforts towards the commissioning of the new hospital.”
The St. Jude Hospital was formally opened on September 5, 1966 by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and provided patient care at no cost to patients.