Erica McDonald, the newly appointed administrator for the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic, is seeking a quick temporary solution to an unexpected reduction of the staff physician population by half.
The St. John clinic found itself back in the doctor deficit when Dr. Peter Krause called it quits after a week on duty in mid-March. He had begun work on March 13, when his predecessor, Dr. Norbert Straub, completed a temporary assignment.
"With regard to Dr. Krause, the only thing I can say is it's not America's Paradise for everybody," McDonald said. She added, "I have no problem with him as a practitioner."
Krause's short tenure has left the clinic once again with only one physician on staff. McDonald said she began seeking temporary alternatives this week while also continuing the process of securing a permanent replacement. She said Straub is expected to return later this year on a permanent basis after completing prior commitments on the mainland.
For much of 1999, Dr. Elizabeth Barot was the sole provider for St. John's residents and visitors seeking public health and emergency medical care. When Straub joined the staff in December, officials of the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, which administers the Keating clinic, expanded the St. John clinic hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The longer clinic hours will remain in effect, and Barot has agreed to cover all appointments and respond to any emergency calls between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. while a replacement for Krause is sought, McDonald said.
She said she was hoping to speak with a candidate on Thursday. Meantime, she said, "I e-mailed Dr. Straub. . . just to check to see what date he's coming back."
McDonald said temporary-assignment physicians are available to staff-short medical centers as are traveling nurses, a staple of the V.I. health care system for years. However, she added, at this time of year, shortly before a new crop of doctors graduates from medical school, the choices are limited.
