19 Jul 2018

Guam's hospital loses its accreditation

10:16 am on 19 July 2018

Guam's Memorial Hospital has lost its accreditation from the Jont Commission, a body that accredits over 20,000 healthcare organisations in the United States.

Guam's governor, Eddie Calvo.

Guam's governor, Eddie Calvo. Photo: Office of the Governor of Guam

The Pacific Daily News reported the decision to deny accreditation came following surveys in August and January.

The hospital Board of Trustees said despite the denial the hospital continues to deliver on its commitment to provide quality patient care.

The board said the hospital also continues to retain and uphold its certification by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and management are making progress on a plan of corrective action.

In January, hospital officials said the facility may lose its accreditation because it had not fixed problems that surveyors previously identified.

Stained ceiling tiles in critical areas was one of the issues surveyors noted in their most recent visit.

The hospital is also the subject of a special legislative investigating committee review amid allegations of mismanagement.

The Guam governor Eddie Calvo told Pacific Daily News the territory's legislature blocked efforts to boost the hospital's funding.

"We've tried so many ways to get them the necessary funding. We do believe that funding has always been the problem. For several years I've been trying to work with the legislature in regards to shoring up this - it's tantamount to a $30-35million short fall every year. So you ask about culpability or responsibility - it's all of us, I admit it."