Previous Story
DPH named interim manager of the new health corporation
|
Posted on Oct 05 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
The Fitial administration has assigned the Department of Public Health as the interim manager of the new health corporation pending the appointment of board members who will select the corporation’s chief executive officer.
Press secretary Angel A. Demapan told Saipan Tribune that the corporation will remain under Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez’s watch until board nominees are named and confirmed.
“The health care corporation will, in the interim, continue to function with the same management in place prior to Oct. 1,” said Demapan.
The health corporation, composed of the Commonwealth Health Center and the Tinian and Rota health centers, officially came into being on Oct. 1. It also covers the Women’s Clinic, the Children’s Clinic, the Community Guidance Center, and inter-island medical referral services.
DPH will later execute a memorandum of understanding for the orderly transfer of personnel, property, and funds to the corporation. As of last week, nearly 600 personnel have been absorbed by the corporation. It was allocated $5 million as seed capital for its initial operation.
The objective of creating the corporation is to improve management efficiency by allowing managers to better focus on hospital operations.
The corporation will have a seven-member board of trustees, of which three members shall be ex-officio voting members. One member shall be the chief executive officer to be selected by the board, the second will be the nursing director, and the third is for the medical director. Four of the members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate-two from Saipan and one each from Rota and Tinian.
Demapan disclosed that “the administration will be holding meetings with health officials in the coming days to address outstanding matters such as setting up the corporation’s financial management system and the governor’s nominations to the board of trustees.”
Villagomez told Saipan Tribune Friday that a list of potential board nominees has been submitted to the Executive Branch. No official appointment has been announced to date.
