by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The newly confirmed Guam Memorial Hospital board of trustees will meet at tonight to hear staff reports on the condition of the hospital, as well as to make a decision on whether to close the Outpatient Hemodialysis Unit. The unit is losing close to $50,000 a month that could be used for other purposes at the hospital.

GMH Chief Financial Officer Siva Karuppan will assure the board that private facilities are extremely capable of accepting the patients to ensure the continuity and quality of care. Nurses in the unit could be used at the Inpatient Hemodialysis Unit as well on other floors leaving the space to be utilized for other purposes.

He told KUAM News, "We now have the luxury of space at the hospital now, if the board agrees to close the unit. We could use it for an outpatient center maybe an MRI unit, other outpatient procedures. I know the Legislature was talking about an urgent care setting that could also be used for an urgent care setting, because there's space available now."

The board is also expected to elect its board officers and chairs for the different board committees. Healthcare Committee chairman Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. will also present a legislative resolution to honor and acknowledge National Hospital Week and GMH's role in the community.