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CHC unveils new equipment, ‘Cadillac for babies’
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is shown one of the improved programs for the Commonwealth Health Center as Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña and Rep. Vinson Sablan (Ind-Saipan) and House vice speaker Janet Maratita (R-Saipan) look on. (Erwin Encinares)
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. unveiled yesterday several new equipment for the Commonwealth Health Center worth a total of $1.8 million, one of which is referred to as the “Cadillac for babies.”
The new equipment includes four infant ventilators, seven new cardiac monitors, and several other equipment along with repairs for the radiology system, and a new maternal and fetal monitoring system software, among others.
CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña, who showed the new hospital equipment and repairs to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and other officials, said the hospital was long overdue for upgrades in its healthcare equipment. For this tranche, the money came from the passage of a Saipan local law.
“This is a 1986 building; some of these equipment came with this building,” Muña said.
She referred to the infant ventilators as the “Cadillac for babies” since the units could take over the functions that are usually provided by other equipment in the hospital and provide nurses all kinds of information in one station.
“The idea is to improve patient care and create efficiency,” she said. “…It’s a great improvement, and I am excited.”
Torres, along with Rep. Vinson Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), and vice speaker Janet Maratita (R-Saipan), were part of a short tour of the hospital.
“…Through the process of bidding, finally we got the equipment here,” said Torres in an interview yesterday. “I am very impressed and I give kudos to the CHCC CEO for keeping up to date with the things we need in the facility. …Some of these equipment are state-of-the-art that even some of our neighboring islands don’t have. This just shows that we are making the priorities here and what we need.
That includes a new CT scan that is on its way to the hospital, along with training to familiarize handlers of its operation.
