Villagomez returned to work last month after taking a medical leave for nearly five months.
He said nine of the staff nurses resigned and one was terminated.
CHC, the islands’ only hospital, also needs to fill one nursing assistant position. The person who held this post resigned last February.
CHC’s two licensed practical nurses, a nurse midwife, two clinical laboratory scientists, a staff pharmacist and pharmacy specialist also quit their jobs.
So did the hospital’s staff physical therapist, food service manager, kitchen helper, three eligibility workers, a clinical attendant, a security guard, a communication operator and two medical referral assistants.
The governor placed the Department of Public Health under a state of medical emergency last Oct. 20 mainly to exempt the hospital from certain policies in hiring medical personnel outside of the U.S.
He certified to the Legislature the 31 positions that should be filled at CHC.
“The filling of these vacant positions are of vital importance for the efficient delivery of essential public services. Continuing appropriations are available for the full personnel cost associated with these vacancies. By copy of this letter, I am requesting the appropriate entities to assist in filling these positions referred to herein,” the governor said.
