CNMI receives new portable echocardiography machines

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has received two new portable echocardiography machines that will be used at the Tinian and Rota healthcare centers thanks to the Rotary International Foundation.

Yesterday, CHCC accepted two new portable echocardiography machines funded by the Rotary International Foundation on behalf of the Tinian and Rota healthcare centers. The donation was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Rotary Club of Tokyo-West, Rotary Club of Saipan, and Dr. Peter Gregor.

Saipan Tribune learned each machine costs upwards of $50,000 and two were purchased specifically to help the Rota and Tinian communities.

Halina Palacios, CHC chief operating officer, expressed her gratitude for the collaborative effort that made the donation possible.

“On behalf of CHCC, and especially the NMI communities, I want to extend my gratitude. Thank you for thinking of us and thinking of becoming a partner in our goals for sustainable care and a healthier community,” she said.

Making the donation even more special, CHCC is the first recipient of a grant that was a result of the first collaborative effort between the Rotary clubs of Saipan and Tokyo-West.

“This is something very special to us and we are thankful that CHCC can take part by being the receiving hands for such a momentous occasion,” she said.

Gregor, the man who came up with the idea for portable echocardiography machines for the outer islands of the CNMI, said the donation is a tremendously valuable gift.

“Echocardiography is an ultrasound technique of looking at the heart to identify heart attacks valve problems, inherited defects, [basically] every cardiology consultation has an echocardiogram inherent in it. We have two of these state-of-the-art machines. Currently, the patients come to the machine. What’s now going to happen is that the machine will go to the people of the outer islands,” he said.

Currently, every time a patient from Tinian or Rota needs an echocardiogram, they must fly to Saipan and it’s expensive.

However, now, with the machines and a technician that will fly to Tinian and Rota occasionally to do 10 echocardiograms each trip, the cost is cut by 90%.

“By bringing the machine and technician to the patients on these islands, there will be tremendous savings in time and convenience for these people,” he said.

Gregor also explained how the funding came to be.

“Rotary International Foundation grants start with an idea, then a field trip. Rotary Club of Tokyo-West Mikiya Yajima visited Saipan, Rota, and Tinian to meet with government officials and healthcare officials to assess the need. There is a cooperative organization, in this case CHC. Rotarian Yajima reported back to the president of the Rotary Club of Tokyo-West and the Rotarians of the Tokyo-West helped develop an application for a grant to the Rotary International Foundation. So, from April, to when we received the funding in October, this has been a remarkably fast global grant process,” he said.