Dec. 27, 2007 – In a letter to Debra Smith-Watlington, who chairs the Virgin Islands Board of Education, Schneider Regional Medical Center President and CEO Amos W. Carty Jr. expresses support and appreciation for the Board's scholarship initiative for nursing education. Noting the shortage of qualified nursing candidates for full-time employment, Carty believes there could be no investment in health care of greater value at this time. Moreover, he notes, the territory's hospitals cannot long afford the cost of contracting for nursing services. The requirement that scholarship recipients commit to a period of service in the Virgin Islands, Carty believes, opens a window of opportunity for the hospitals to encourage local career choices.
Senator Carlton Dowe and other members of the Legislature are to be commended, as well, Carty says, since they have committed additional public resources to the nurse and teachers scholarship program. "Those of us charged with the great responsibility of providing quality health care to our people," Carty concludes, "are greatly encouraged by this development." He expresses his hope that the Government of the Virgin Islands and all others will contiune to support programs which strengthen our care delivery system.
