Int’l audit firm lauds THC clinic

An independent, non-profit social auditing and research organization has lauded the corporate clinic of Tan Holdings Corp. during its audit of all garment factories in the CNMI a couple of weeks ago.

THC safety and health consultant Ron Biggers said Verite held its auditing activities on the company’s clinic in Lower Base beginning July 8.

The clinic’s resident physician, Bill Weiss, said Verite auditor Rowina Morales commended them for being the best clinic she has seen among the companies they visited in the CNMI.

Weiss said he was overwhelmed with the comment, coming as it does from an international audit firm representative.

He said he had a two-hour discussion with Morales during the audit process, during which she aske him about the kinds of patients the clinic receives and others. The clinic usually accommodates patients complaining of bruises, rashes, cuts, and pregnancy-related problems.

The resident physician has been managing the clinic for one and a half years now, together with administrative assistant Christy Lopez, who also works for the human resources department of THC.

Weiss said it was team effort that transformed the clinic into a clean and conducive clinic.

The clinic currently has four bunk beds for patients. Lopez said the clinic normally receives an average of 25 patients a day. Although the clinic is only open from Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 2pm, she said the resident physician never fails to miss a check up with his patients.

“This clinic is actually good for people with high-blood pressure and diabetes,” Weiss said.

He said the clinic has a very controlled environment, unlike those in some parts of the world that have a similar set-up, which are usually disorganized.

“Most clinics are usually the lowest priority in a corporate set-up,” he said.

Lopez and Weiss said the clinic now is much better and most of the patients would send favorable feedback on how they were attended to in the clinic. The clinic also keeps an organized medicine cabinet for the patients. Weiss said they keep medicine cabinet well-stocked, comparable to what a regular pharmacy has.

Weiss said he is proud of the clinic and as much as possible he would want the patients to feel comfortable. He said he hopes that other firms would follow the same set-up for their employees.