January 29, 2018   Hagatna - As the night goes on, the support for GMH continues. Nurses let lawmakers know their concern regarding the Guam Memorial Hospital.   “We have been operating on fumes, it’s about time that we stop and dedicate a source of funding. Not just for one day, but every day. Not just because it’s election year, but because...

January 29, 2018   Hagatna - “I’ve been here since 1970. I could’ve been in a coma in 1970, and woke up this morning and felt like it was still 1970. We have the same issues, the same problems that we’ve dealt with then.” – Jim Gillan, Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services   Guam Memorial Hospital has had the same...

In a Guam Daily Post article published Jan. 28, Sen. Frank Aguon, Jr. stated he didn’t believe Bill 230 is a viable solution to GMH’s problems – that we need to work together to improve patient care. Yet while hospital employees, patients, concerned citizens, former lawmakers, business leaders and more filled the Legislature’s public hearing room...

“There is no one present at this hearing who can say that the Guam Memorial Hospital does not need to be modernized or to provide the best care possible for its patients.” – Maria Perez, GMH Guest Relations Coordinator For 23 years, Ms. Perez has surveyed GMH patients. She’s heard their complaints – from the need for a continued funding source to...

January 29, 2018 Hagatna - Today, private businessman Simon Sanchez brought alternative solutions to lawmakers: Raise GRT to help GMH. "As an alternative to Bill 230, I respectfully suggest an interim plan to occur while some of these longer term solutions are well thought out and based on more facts than we know today, are developed, and wisely...

“There are a lot of criticisms out there and I hear every one. And I just wish they come and see our work what we have to do every minute of it. I’ve seen it all, outpatient side and inpatient side I am so proud of people who work at GMH. It doesn’t take an experienced medical director like me, it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.” – Dr....

“We do everything we can for our patients, but we realize that what we have is scarce.” – Dr. Jolene Maanao Aguon, Medical Director of GMH’s Intensive Care Unit   For the last hour and a half, doctors have testified before lawmakers on the importance of funding the island’s only public hospital.    “We’ve been trying to meet the standard of care...

Surgeries are a tremendous investment – from the cost of supplies and equipment to the staffing needed, the procedures cost a tremendous amount of money, Dr. David Weingarten, a neurosurgeon for the hospital, explained. With the hospital lacking the resources to perform some dire surgeries, Dr. Weingarten has opted to pay out of pocket for what...

“Healthcare is not one of those things that we can cut back. We can’t say ‘Hey, we can’t do your hernia until six months from now because we have to cut back.’ Everybody is going to need some kind of healthcare, whether it’s now or next year. Everybody on this island is going to need some healthcare service provided at GMH.” – Dr. John Fegurgur,...