by Janjeera Hail

Guam - The Guam Memorial Hospital's board of trustees is meeting tonight to approve plans to expand GMH's Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room. Spokesperson Connor Murphy says that if all goes well, the RFP process can begin immediately for the $7 million project, which is expected to be funded by bond proceeds.

"What we're going to be doing is expanding the ICU from 10 beds to 14 to 16 beds," said Murphy. "And then the ER is going to be getting a major expansion as well. We're going to be adding isolation rooms, trauma rooms, more exam space to accommodate not just the growth from the military buildup but also our needs at the moment."

The hospital hopes to open the doors to its expanded units by late-2011.