CAY HILL – The St. Maarten Medical Center’s objective is to provide safe and quality health care for St. Maarten and neighboring territories. As a responsible medical institution, it is important for SMMC to have a stable organizational structure to ensure that our objectives and goals are being focused on and met according to the expectations of our patients and wider community.
In light of that, an interim candidate to fill the position of the chairman of the Board of Directors for the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) was expected to assume responsibilities as of January 1st, 2013 upon the departure of Dr Scot, former Chairman of the Board of Directors. Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen family emergency, occurring merely days before the incoming interim director would assume his position, this transition could no longer take place as planned. Immediately we commenced the search for a new candidate. Currently, discussions between SMMC and another candidate for the interim position are at an advanced stage and it is expected that the position will be filled as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the management team of the hospital will continue to ensure the continuity of the daily operations, while the Chairman of the Medical Staff, dr. Holiday, has assumed the responsibilities regarding acute medical issues that may arise.
The review of the organizational structure is one of the priorities of the St. Maarten Medical Center. Since mid last year, SMMC has commissioned an independent agency to conduct an organizational scan of the hospital. Based on the outcome, a decision will be made on the most appropriate top structure of SMMC. This will determine whether the Board of Directors will have one or more members and further determine the organizational makeup of the management team.
The public’s need for safe and adequate care is at the core of all actions taken by the St. Maarten Medical Center. Diligent but also responsible actions and decision making is required to appoint suitable candidates to the Board of Directors. This necessary process will take some time.
The function profiles of the positions in the Board of Directors have been discussed and agreed on by the Minister of Public Health in accordance with SMMC's articles of incorporation. Furthermore, the Minister of Public Health as well as the Inspectorate of Health are being kept abreast of all developments.
St. Maarten Medical Center will continue as usual, to work towards improving the level and quality of care for the benefit of all the residents of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius and surrounding islands. We look forward to doing so in collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten and the Inspectorate of Health.
The Supervisory Council of the SMMC