The Virgin Islands Government Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation (GHHFC) has concluded a successful fact-finding mission to Orlando and Miami, Florida, held from July 27 to July 31.
The onsite visits were planned in a manner to allow the USVI Team to engage with several of Florida’s top hospitals and healthcare systems leadership and clinical staff around best practices, key issues and potential solutions. Findings will inform the Board’s strategic planning and guide the transformation of healthcare delivery throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Led by GHHFC Chairman Dr. Jerry R. Smith, the delegation included Director Julio Rhymer (Treasurer, GHHFC and Director of the Office of Management and Budget), Mr. Christopher Finch (Secretary, GHHFC), Dr. Albert Titus (Physician Representative, St. Croix District), Nurse Faye John-Baptiste (Nurse Representative, St. Croix District), Director Michelle Francis (Director, Office of Health Information Technology), and Mr. Darryl Smalls (Executive Director, Territorial Hospital Redevelopment Team).
The delegation was warmly welcomed and engaged with a variety of team members around organizational culture and excellence, infrastructure, technology and witnessed teams in action through tours at Orlando Health, AdventHealth, and Baptist Health South Florida—three nationally recognized health systems. The mission took place just as U.S. News & World Report released its 2025–2026 hospital rankings, underscoring the exceptional quality of care and organizational excellence demonstrated by these institutions.
AdventHealth Orlando was named to the national Honor Roll of Best Hospitals, placing it among the top 20 hospitals in the United States—the only hospital in Florida to earn this designation. It was also ranked #1 in the state of Florida and #1 in the Orlando metro area, with national rankings in 11 adult specialties and 3 pediatric specialties and rated “High Performing” in 22 adult procedures and conditions.
Orlando Health and Baptist were also recognized by U.S. News for outstanding performance across multiple service lines and facilities, earning accolades among the Best Hospitals in the Nation and within the state, leading placements in state and regional rankings.
During the mission, consistent themes emerged across all site visits, including:
• A relentless focus on patient experience and continuity of care;
• Strong emphasis on mission alignment, organizational culture, and vision-driven leadership;
• Integrated organizational structures and interdisciplinary collaboration;
• The benefits of being physician-led and data-informed;
• System-wide uniformity in clinical, technological and administrative processes;
• Strategic investments in quality data infrastructure and a modern Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems;
• The power of partnerships and collaborative arrangements—across systems, specialties, and sectors—to better serve patients through coordinated and comprehensive care;
• A collective willingness to envision what is possible, even if it lies beyond what is currently practical or immediately achievable, fostering a culture of long-term innovation and bold transformation;
“This mission offered a front-row view into what is working at some of the highest performing health systems in the nation,” said Dr. Smith. “These institutions are not only delivering excellent clinical outcomes—they are doing so through thoughtful design, empowered staff, and a clear commitment to the patient journey. These lessons are essential as we work to elevate healthcare for all Virgin Islanders.”
The GHHFC will use findings from this exploratory mission to inform policy, investments, and operational reforms aimed at unifying hospital services, improving patient outcomes, and delivering a consistent, high-quality healthcare experience across the territory.
