CHRISTIANSTED – FEMA has approved $9 million dollars for the Department of Health to fund the architecture and engineering services necessary to reconstruct the Charles Harwood Medical Center in St. Croix through its Public Assistance Program.
Built in 1952, the 82,400-square-foot medical center in Estate Richmond was the hub for all the Department of Health’s operations prior to Hurricane Maria. Residents visited the Charles Harwood Medical Center for a wide range of services to include medical and dental facilities, WIC, epidemiology, vital records and statistics, family planning, labs, immunizations, mental health, and other services.
This facility was once the only hospital on the island of St. Croix until the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital was constructed in 1982. Roof failures and water intrusion caused by Hurricane Maria proved to be too much for the facility causing extensive and irreparable damage. FEMA officially determined on February 12, 2019, that the site was eligible for a full replacement.
Commissioner Justa Encarnacion spoke of her emotional ties with Charles Harwood Medical Center as she and most of her siblings were born in the complex.
“I am excited to collaborate on innovative ideas surrounding a public health care delivery system that meets the needs of our community,” Encarnacion said. “I envision creative approaches to showcasing our Regulatory Division, rooms equipped with telemedicine access, kiosks providing electronic access to files and applications, clinical settings with state-of-the-art equipment and supplies, and links to other outpatient clinical programs. The obligation of this funding is timely as we are in the process of finalizing both our strategic and community assessment plans.”
In April 2019, with the support of over $2 million in federal funding from FEMA, temporary buildings were constructed, and DOH moved all its functions to 66 modular units behind the permanent structure.
“Future funding from FEMA will allow the Department of Health to rebuild stronger and in line with current industry standards,” said Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director of the Office of Disaster Recovery. “The department will issue a solicitation to select a firm to design the new Charles Harwood Medical Center. Once contracted, the design process should take approximately eight months to complete.”
The solicitation for architecture and engineering services will be drafted and released in August. For this and other disaster recovery advertisements, please visit http://www.usviodr.com/doing-business-with-odr/.