The mobile dialysis facilities that we delivered for St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands were helpful for providing disaster relief, lowering costs of care, and meeting the critical need for dialysis care in the area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) purchased these facilities from Mobile Healthcare Facilities (MHCFAC) to bring convenient and high-quality care to patients at the Juan F. Luis Hospital (JFL) in St. Croix.

According to The Virgin Islands Daily News in November of 2019, “the Luis Hospital on St. Croix announced… the completion and availability of a new mobile dialysis complex”. This dialysis complex made a major positive change for local patients, with twelve dialysis stations to use.

According to The St Croix Source, the mobile dialysis facilities “provide sustaining dialysis treatment for JFL’s patients diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and kidney failure patients”. Without this care, these patients would be unable to survive.

Since hurricanes Irma and Maria, it had been difficult for JFL Hospital to provide consistent care since they experienced significant damage to their facilities, according to The Daily News. The hurricane damage made it impossible for the hospital to provide necessary dialysis treatment.

After the dialysis center’s closure following Hurricane Maria, residents had been flown to Miami for critical treatment three times per week. However, with the help of our mobile facilities, FEMA was able to provide a significantly more affordable and convenient solution.

The St Croix Source reported that the hurricane damage included “substantial water intrusion and physical damage”. Because of this, bringing in mobile facilities was the best option.

JFL Hospital’s acting CEO Dyma Williams expressed to The Daily News that the new mobile units would bring stability to dialysis care for all patients. This change undeniably upgraded patients’ experience, and JFL Hospital was able to meet patients where they were at and give them necessary care without needing to leave the island.

Reflecting on the project, Kyle Affeldt, president and CEO of MHCFAC, stated to St. Croix Source that MHCFAC was “proud to partner with JFL to stabilize dialysis on the island of St. Croix. In procuring [MHCFAC], JFL wanted to exceed regulatory requirements and [MHCFAC] delivered”.

MHCFAC staff were grateful to create a space where patients felt comfortable and taken care of. The company is always working towards their mission to produce the most highly innovative and expertly designed and built mobile healthcare facility solutions possible.

“Dialysis patients report that the environment has already improved,” The St. Croix Source found early on after the mobile units were implemented. “Temperature is appropriately moderated, the environment is stable, new dialysis chairs and equipment meet patient needs, and each station has a television to entertain the patients while receiving their dialysis treatment.”

Mobile Healthcare Facilities worked diligently to give patients the overall best possible experience with this dialysis complex in St. Croix, and are proud of the work done in partnership with FEMA and JFL to make this project possible.