Hemodialysis services cease at GMH

by Krystal Paco

Guam - The Guam Memorial Hospital will stop outpatient hemodialysis services by the end of today. GMH chief financial officer Siva Karuppan says the ending of services is part of numerous cost-saving measures the hospital is taking as part of GovGuam's financial constraints.

Nearly 40 patients will be referred to four private facilities owned by Guam Renal Center. He says the Fresenius dialysis machine used for the outpatient services were put away and had become obsolete if they were to continue to use them.

About seven nurses assigned to the outpatient services will be moved to in-patient services and fill up the shortage of nurses the hospital faces.