Having a baby on island...

Rachel: call Kim at Red Hook family practice,she should be able to point you in the right direction.good luck!340-775-2303

Judith Whitley is an CNM with that practice. I know her b/c I used to teach her son when I lived there. A great lady!

It seems Judy has changed practices (her and Dr. Hartshorn)...her number is 340-776-8989.

There is also an entire listing in the VI phonebook on line www.viphonebook.com

Another one that I know of is Dr. Rupert Peterkin if you would rather have an MD instead of a midwife. His number is 340-777-9696. (I used to teach his kid, too).

Yes Dr. Peterkin is a great MD.

Speaking of having babies... My fiance and I are considering moving to the islands. She is a high risk OB RN and I am a Paramedic. How is the overall healthcare down there? Any ideas on job outlook for a Paramedic and a Registered Nurse? Thanks for any help.
Jason

I am a registered nurse at present and a year away from being a CNM. The need for nurses is EXTREME from how I understood it in talking to the nurse recruiter for the hospital. Currently, they have a lot of traveling nurses that they are spending far too much money on to fill spaces in the hospital, and while they get very good nurses with the traveling services, they can't retain them. The NR said that it's sort of a catch-22, they are happy the nurses are there, but at the same time, know that they can't get them to stay b/c the traveling services reassign them every 3-4 months. They are working very hard at moving away from allowing traveler's into the hospitals and hiring FT nurses.

I am not sure where you are currently living, but compared to the my area (large metropolitan), staff nurses in STT make about the same money. STT tends to have higher shift diffs and they continue to pay for each additional certification, not only in payment for education (ie, ACLS, PALS,RNC, etc), but also in terms of hourly wage.

I am currently applying for a CNM position for after I graduate, and the payscale for advance practice nurses is right in line with what you would expect out of the continental. It should say something that I am still a year from graduating and still have yet to sit for my CNM licensure exam, and they are working towards a commitment. Not that I mind....I had planned on returning to the VI after I graduated ANYWAY. This would just be icing on the cake.

As for EMS, I am not sure what the need is, or even how they manage their EMS staff. I do know that they are having a hard time with reliable and timely air transport off island for more critical cases (either by helicopter to PR or small jet to Miami), and have a large need in that area (my husband is researching this as a very possible business venture). As for ground transport, I am not sure.

The number for the hospital is 340-776-8311, and ask for the nurse recruiter (her name is Marsulite Cohen). They also have what listings are open on line at www.rlshospital.org.

Good luck!

Thank you too all of you for all your great responses. I was quite nervous about moving down not knowing the maternity situation. I feel alot more at ease now.. I shall be doing some calling tomorrow...!!!

Thanks everyone..

Rachel

Thanks for the info ExRes. I'm sure Emily will find this to be good news. Good luck with the rest of your CNM program.
Jason

Thanks...the light is at the end of the tunnel, and so far, I don't think it's a train! LOL
Good luck with the job hunt yourself. I can't wait to get the h out of Dodge here and back down there. The next year is going to ddddrrrrrraaaaaggggg.

You have some very good OB/GYN's on St Thomas.
Dr Lloyd, DR Sprauve, DR NImmo, Dr Baird just to name a few,
There is also a clinic where most of these docs also see OB/GYN pt's, so depending on your money situation you can do which ever is the most feasible.
The East End Clinic is located @ the mall, the # is 340-775-3700.
Dr lloyd's office is 340-777-9696.
Another option is that there are also nurse mid-wives avail for deliveries @ the hospital.
There are some good pediatricians and there is also a Neonataligist on island so if there would be any issues of coming early there is someone avail who knows about premmies.
Good Luck and Congratualions

Just out of curiosity, do you know if Dr. Collazo still around (neonatologist)?