Guam – The Guam Medical Association is offering to assist the Governor, the Legislature, the Board of Medical Examiner, Public Health, the GMH Administration and the Board of Trustees” by providing “constructive solutions” to the fiscal crisis at the island’s publ;ic hospital.
Following a meeting with the Governor’s Chief of Staff Frank Arriola, GMA President Dr. Tom Shieh wrote Arriola making the offer to provide solutions.
In his letter Dr. Shieh writes: “We both realize the widening gap of healthcare disparities here on Guam and among our island nations has inflamed an atmosphere of financial challenges. That said, we must treat everyone that walks through our island’s only civilian hospital regardless of ethnic origin. Public health will need to work with our private physicians clinics to ease the burden to the hospital and better improve continuity of care for patients.”
Read the GMA letter to Governor Calvo
Dr. Shieh concludes: “The Guam Medical Association being the largest medical organization on Guam with over 150 health care providers will rise to assist our Governor, the Legislature, the Board of Medical Examiner, Public Health, GMH administration and the Board of Trustees to provide constructive solutions.”
No specific solutions are mentioned in the letter.
Governor Chief of Staff
Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex
Adelup, Guam 96910
Via Email: franklin.arriola@guam.gov
RE: Meeting Regarding Transition Report and Cooperation for Improvement
Dear Honorable Franklin Arriola,
Hafa Adai!
Thank you on behalf of our Board of Officers and members of the Guam Medical Association for
taking the time to meet with me yesterday to discuss the transition report and moving forward in a
collaborative relationship in improving the health care for the people and visitors of Guam.
We both realize the widening gap of healthcare disparities here on Guam and among our island
nations has inflamed an atmosphere of financial challenges. That said, we must treat everyone
that walks through our island’s only civilian hospital regardless of ethnic origin. Public health
will need to work with our private physicians clinics to ease the burden to the hospital and better
improve continuity of care for patients. At the same time, our community physicians are
committed to work with the current good members of the Guam Board of Medical Examiners to
ensure that we are following the national standards of continuing medical education, board
certification and licensing. Only through a collaborative relationship can we achieve continuous
improvements in health care here on Guam.
The Guam Medical Association being the largest medical organization on Guam with over 150
health care providers will rise to assist our Governor, the Legislature, the Board of Medical
Examiner, Public Health, GMH administration and the Board of Trustees to provide constructive
solutions.
Sincerely,
THOMAS SHIEH, MD, FACOG
President
Cc:
31
st
Guam Legislature, GMHA BOTs, GBME, GMHA President, Public Health Director,
GMA Board of Directors, Guam Media Network
