by Krystal Paco

Guam - The island's healthcare and the private hospital that is being constructed was the focus of Guam Healthcare Foundation board president Pete Sgro's speech to the Guam Medical Society on Wednesday night. Speaking as a businessman and past patient, Sgro outlined the foundation's vision to improve healthcare on Guam and keep residents from having to go off island for treatment.

"The purpose of this hospital is to be a specialty hospital - the purpose of this hospital, is based on these numbers that were factored into our financial model, Guam can support with the amount of healthcare dollars leaving island, certain specialty services," he said.

It's estimated that some $80 million is exported out of Guam in healthcare dollars for those needing medical treatment off-island. Sgro says the private hospital will help keep that money on Guam. Additionally he said that 14 doctors who were born and raised on Guam have expressed an interest in working at the new hospital, which is slated to open in 2014.