Verga ready to start as GMH CEO

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam – Guam Memorial Hospital acting administrator Rey Vega has led the agency for a year and a half and in a matter of days, he will help incoming chief executive officer Joseph Verga's transition into heading the island's only civilian hospital. Vega says he has no regrets as the head of Guam's only civilian hospital. And while he says some may find it hard to believe - he feels his management team has put some stability on the hospital.

"We're not out of the woods yet, but the problem is still there, but we're able to sustain and maintain the normal operations of the hospital," he said.  And after a year and a half since Governor Eddie Calvo invoked his Organic Act authority by replacing GMH management and selecting Vega to lead, he hopes to help Verga transition when he officially starts.

He said, "With the new CEO coming in, I think I would be able to share with him the operations of the hospital 0326 but mind you he's not new to the hospital, he was at some point in time the Joint Commission consultant, so he's pretty much in the know as far as the operations of the hospital."

Verga comes to Guam from Canada where he served as president and CEO of Canadian Medical Placement in London, Ontario. Vega says the two have been openly communicating in the past weeks namely on how to address the hospital's finances. "Actually, this is a good opportunity because the new CEO is coming in August 20, and he may have a different perspective and that is an opportunity to reevaluate the billing and collection," he said.

Committee on Health chair Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. has questioned GMH for some time on resolving its billing and collections issues as recent audits have shown that collections are the worst in more than a decade resulting in the loss of tens of millions of dollars. Vega says GMH has since decided to reject the bids for its billing and collection due to some special provisions being unclear and making sure that the bidder would have the right tools and qualifications to equate to success.

For now, Vega says he will remain at the hospital, but for how long and as what will be up to Verga, noting, "I'm glad that during my talk with him (he said) if I can stay for now until we transition smoothly, and I truly appreciate that offer."

Verga meanwhile will be arriving on island this Thursday. According to this three-year contract, he will receive an annual salary plus benefits of $284,000. Verga tells KUAM News that he will spend his first day touring GMH and meeting with staff with hopes of completing an operational review of GMH from top to bottom for effectiveness and efficiency.