Medical Services on St. John

[mask&fins]

My family and I will be coming to St. John for the first time in November. I have been dreaming of going on this trip for at least a decade and have finally gotten to the point where we have saved enough to go. Very excited and love this forum and all the people and insights that are made available.

My wife asked me this morning if there is a doctor on St. John. That thought would have never entered my mind because it is filled to the brim with thoughts about the great food, snorkeling and hiking that is there! Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

[loria]

there is a very good clinic (myrah keating) on the island--there are docs/np's etc--i've been treated there as have both my kids.

[GraysonDave]

http://www.rlshospital.org/myrah.htm

[sea-nile]

there is a very good clinic (myrah keating) on the island--there are docs/np's etc--i've been treated there as have both my kids.

I have been to the clinic and and they did "glue" the cut above my eye shut. Very nice nurses and doctors. Nice facility. I had to wait awhile, but I did not bleed to death. We were there at 5 am though.

We had a nurse with us on the trip and that helped me the most. She fixed up a waterproof bandage for me.

[stjohnjulie]

We have two clinics and a couple of other practices on island. Like mentioned, Myra Keating Smith Community Health Care is a good clinic. They can handle just about everything. For very serious stuff, they will transport you to the hospital on St. Thomas. The phone number for the clinic is 340-693-8900 just in case you want to keep it handy

[philbetm]

Hi,

When we were there the first week of May I did one
of my "never a dull moment " things. After a great
early afternoon snorkeling adventure at Waterlemon
while coming out of the water way over by the big
rocks...I fell face first into them. I am diabetic and thought I was OK but,my glucose level dropped and
I got dizzy and lost it! I have no memory of the fall
but it was bad. My hubby, his sister and hubby were with me. I can tell you what they have filled me in on.

First, someone who saw the fall had a cell phone and
called for emergency assistance. Tom said in a very
short time there was a National Park rescue boat flying into the bay as close as possible to us. Then he said it was like a scene from the "Bay Watch" shows in the earlier days. Over the side came 3 or 4 emergency volunteers.( Ladies...my SIL said they
looked the part too..Hot!!!) Sorry..back to the long
story. My understanding is I was not very lucid or
looking very good...just missed losing my left eye to
one of the big sharp rocks.

They had to immobilize me on a backboard,then carried me through the water out to the waiting boat. They also took Tom on the boat with us to a
waiting ambulance at the Nat. Pk. dock where I was
going too be taken to the Hospital/Clinic. It seems
that I had several seizures on the boat ride and they
worked with me quite a bit. From what Tom has said,
I was a handful...I don't remember.

Upon being transferred to the ambulance and those
EMTs checking me out...they along with the clinic
doctor decided I needed to be taken straight to STT
for an immediate CT scan and trauma treatment. This is all still a blurry scene for me. I do remember
opening my eyes and thinking I was inside a silver
casket (morbid,HUH) but I was looking at the ceiling
of the rescue unit. They transferred me over to
a fast rescue boat of some kind and off we went to
STT. Tom said they had another ambulance already
waiting at the Red Hook dock when we arrived. I can
remember hearing sirens but didn't know it was for
me. He said they ran "lights and sirens" all the way
to the hospital. When we got there I had immediate
attention from many medical personnel.

I began regaining my senses enough to know where I
was and what was going on. I didn't know how bad I
was hurt and no one would let me see myself.
Sorry this is so long ... but for good reason.
In the past I have heard some not so good stories
about that hospital...but I have too tell you...
I have never experienced such quick,professional and
caring treatment in my life. The doctor was a jewel...and actually had me trying too laugh thru
all my swelling and lumps and bumps before I was
released hours later. I would love too have her here
for my PCP.
AND GUYS...BELIEVE THIS OR NOT...TOM said not once
did anyone from beginning too end ever ask for
any INSURANCE INFO!!!! That doesn't happen here ever!
All they needed was names and addresses. Yes, we did
recently receive all the bills...but it was not at all unreasonalbe charges. AMAZING!

So please don't worry . If you need medical attention for anything while there it is very available and WELL trained. I cannot sing their praises enough. Esp. the STJ emergency volunteers!
I can honestly say ... they very well may have saved
my life! I know it could have ended in a much worse way without them. GOD bless them all.

Sherry in SC

PS...if by any chance anyone was there and took some
pictures...will you e-mail them too me? I want to see
what I ( and those Bay Watch Boys) looked like!!

[stjohnjulie]

OH MY philbetm! That is quite the story, pretty scary! I am glad that you are ok and really glad to hear the response from everyone involved. St. John has a really good "St.John Rescue" team of volunteers and they do a super job. Sounds like the National Park is on top of things as well. Again, glad you are ok. You really took that in stride! Even though it worked out really well, not the vacation memory I would want to come home with

[philbetm]

Scary it was! It has been 4 months and my bruised
and fractured places are still tender to touch.
We still had 4 days left on island when this happened. I took a day and a half off and with
lots of help ... and pain meds. kept going.
It also proved to be entertaining at times...
got a lot of stares and questions. During dinner
at Shipwreck Landing the server was horrified...esp.
when I convinced her my SIL did it too me!! But the
downside was...no more snorkeling per Doctor's
orders! What wasn't funny was that when we went
through custom's when leaving, Tom and I both were
questioned over and over. They thought he did it too
me and I had to convince them he didn't!

[GraysonDave]

Wow, what a story. Glad you're recovering and thank goodness for that rescue team.

[Xislandgirl]

WOW, what a story. Glad everything turned out OK.

I had a health scare of a female nature while on island and was rushed to the clinic about 7:00pm on a Friday night. Dr. Barrett was on call and was there before me and was awesome. Really caring and understanding to my no pain killer rule and really took such great care of me. It could have gone very wrong had she and the staff there not sprung right into action.

I know that some people have not had good experiences but I can not say enough good things about the staff that took care of me.

[islandmom]

What a dreadful accident! I'm glad you're recovering well and did get to "enjoy" the rest of your stay.

I just got back from STJ last night from a 6-day stay and on my 2nd day, fell on some stone stairs and took a nice divot out of my scalp - boy do scalp wounds bleed!! Scared the dickens out of me (and I'm a health care professional) and there was no one around. I was able to reach my daughter and she flew over to the condo and raced me to Myrah Keating Smith where I received great treatment. I am still looking for that Mack truck that must have been around to have caused all the bruises, scrapes, aches and pains, but it could have been much, much worse and, hey, new experiences make us stronger! But, boohoo, no snorkeling for me either - rats!

[philbetm]

So sorry islandmom...it does feel like a
Mack Truck slammed you doesn't it!
I kinda thought maybe they had put train tracks
around the island...and I had walked in front of
it...could have sworn those crossing arms were up!!

Glad you are OK too!! Know what sucks???
Doctors are trying to tell me that due to the
diabetes and Hemiplegic migraines...NO MORE Snorkeling ever........Well we'll just have to rethink that for a while.

[seagrape]

Get a pain? Get a plane! That's what we have heard for serious issues..Husband got great service from MK for Christmas Bush. However, STJ seriously needs a Medivac unit!