Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Thursday, October 04, 2012

CHC CT scanner, backup x-ray unit now fully functional

The Commonwealth Health Center got back last week the backup portable x-ray unit it loaned to the Tinian Health Center, according to Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Juan N. Babauta.

Babauta said that radiology manager Dan Harding told him that the portable unit was returned in good condition and is now being tested.

Babauta said the corporation also repaired the image transfer function of its CT scanner and that it is now fully functional.

According to Babauta, the CT scanner was working but there were some inaccurate reporting when it automatically transmits images to Guam for interpretation. This, he said, has been successfully repaired.

Meantime, hospital administrator Karen Buettner said that they are still awaiting the shipment of new defibrillators for the hospital.

“The four monitors were shipped Saturday from the U.S. and are expected here by Oct. 8,” she told Saipan Tribune, adding that the corporation still needs to submit evidence to Medicare before the immediate jeopardy status slapped on the hospital could be lifted.

The new defibrillators, according to Babauta, were purchased using funds from the hospital's collections.

Babauta said they are expecting a formal report from Medicare in the next two weeks about its observations and assessment of the public hospital.

The CEO said most of the deficiencies found by the visiting Medicare team were a result of the corporation's funding shortage, which only received $5 million in fiscal year 2012.

CHC's Medicare status is still in immediate jeopardy. That means CHC must submit a comprehensive action plan within 23 days or its accreditation will be terminated. This will result in the potential loss of millions of dollars in Medicare funds. The public hospital receives from $8 million to $10 million in Medicare reimbursements every year.

Immediate jeopardy indicates that the provider's noncompliance with one or more requirements of participation in the Medicare and Medicaid program has or is “likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment or death.”