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Castro named Kagman health center’s interim CEO
The Kagman Community Health Center board of directors, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. board, named Vince Castro as the interim chief executive officer of the Kagman health center at a recent meeting.
Corporation board chair Joaquin Torres disclosed to Saipan Tribune yesterday that Castro will join Dr. Daniel Lamar in preparing the new center’s various projects until permanent individuals are selected for the positions.
Lamar was named the center’s interim director for Medical Affairs.
From the initial plan to hire a chief financial officer for the center, Torres disclosed that the Kagman health center board is now looking at downgrading the CFO post to an accountant or accounting manager position. He said the corporation supports this and is willing to extend any help the new center may need in terms of financial management and assistance.
The CEO, DMA, and CFO are among the three key positions that need to be filled immediately in time for the center’s target opening on Oct. 1.
According to Torres, all these positions will be announced at a later date and all decisions are up to the center’s board.
The board is also thinking of scaling back the number of personnel that will be stationed at the center. It was initially announced that 14 personnel may be stationed there, their salaries paid from the corporation’s account as its in-kind matching share for the project. The corporation is a co-applicant in the grant award that funded the new center.
Torres revealed that an organizational chart is now being finalized for the new center and the census for Kagman will dictate the number of the center’s personnel. Despite the tedious bidding process, Torres said the project’s schedule is on track.
The CNMI was recently awarded $608,333 in start up funds by the Health Resources and Services Administration to build the Kagman Community Health Center. The grant requires an in-kind match from the healthcare corporation such as staff and supplies.
In the initial phase of the project, two things that need to be accomplished are the renovation of the facility and the appointment of key staff. Under the grant agreement, the center has to be up and running within 120 days or on Oct. 1.
