Consultant: Hospital interim plan 60 pct. complete

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. may have to wait a few more months before it could implement the organization’s interim plan following disclosure that the document is only about 60 percent complete.
CHCC consultant WestCare informed the board and management that the complete and final document may be available around May or June this year.

While WestCare works on the interim plan, the much-awaited “Three-Year Strategic Plan” for the corporation has yet to start. The goal of this strategic plan is to provide quality medical care, promote health and prevention programs, undertake public health disease surveillance, and sound healthcare management, with the overall goal of promoting the health and wellness of CNMI residents and its visitors.

WestCare told the board that the first phase of the interim plan has been completed while the second phase is about to start. A meeting is scheduled this month to continue this process, according to the consultant.

Saipan Tribune learned that WestCare was contracted using grant monies applied by PIHOA for the CNMI. PIHOA is the Pacific Island Health Officers Association. This grant is for the improvement of public health infrastructure that can be used to develop CHCC’s strategic plan. Each year, about $100,000 is available for the CNMI from this grant. The strategic plan was initially targeted to begin last year but was delayed to this year for some reasons.

WestCare reported that there have been noted accomplishments in the interim plan due to the regular involvement of the management, managers, and stakeholders.

According to WestCare, the interim plan is designed to keep the momentum at the corporation where significant progress and achievements have been noted. This primarily deals with the operations of the corporation.

The document’s first draft is expected by this month.

The consultant said that it’s only after the interim plan is complete that work on the strategic plan will commence. The timeframe given is by June or July.

Saipan Tribune learned that since WestCare started, a series of meetings have been done on Saiapn, Tinian, and Rota, seeking input from community members and stakeholders regarding short and long-term goals for the organization.