Muña lauds hospital’s progress under her term

Despite its many challenges, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has made significant strides in the last 12 months of its operation, including the recertification of the public hospital’s laboratory unit and the hiring of more medical staff.

Interim corporation CEO Esther Muña highlighted these accomplishments in her first annual report, which covers the period from when she began serving the position on April 30, 2013.

In the seven-page document submitted to the board and orally reported during last week’s meeting, Muña cited the achievements recorded in both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certifications.

“At appointment of the interim CEO, CHCC was still on the termination state from CMS for Hospital & Dialysis and revocation state for its certification of its laboratory from CLIA. Maintaining certification is critical since CHCC receives approximately $22 million annually from the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” stated Muña’s report, providing more details about the CMS revisit and resurvey done in September 2013.

She disclosed that CHC was granted another extension up to May 27, 2014, to fully comply with the condition of participation with CMS. Although the termination status was not removed, the condition level citations was reduced from 13 to nine and CMS noted that, with its current leadership, they see that CHC is in a trajectory to eventually succeed. Plans for corrections are due April 25 this year.

The dialysis revisit, Muña said, also gave CHC an opportunity to revisit its disaster contingency plans while ensuring patient rights were respected.

“A revisit from CMS-CLIA, however, was more successful and CHC Lab was granted a CLIA recertification up to 2016,” Muña said.

She also cited the reorganization of the hospital organization chart that, among others, gave the hospital administrator the authority to implement systematic changes and placed the hospital nursing director directly under its supervision.

Recruitment and retention of personnel was also highlighted, including the hiring of pharmacists and respiratory therapists.

Muña said the internal medicine physicians count increased from two to five while three doctors were added to the pediatric clinic’s two. The hiring of more nurse practitioners in the outpatient clinics and a lab/pathologist at the lab clinic were also noted as significant achievements.

“The discharge planning process was changed to become a more multi-disciplinary process” resulting in CHC successfully reducing readmissions by 5 percent immediately after the change, she said.

Muña included on her list of accomplishments the successful implementation of the electronic health record system that gave the hospital a $1.4 million incentive.

Muña said that CHCC was also able to work out agreements with Medical Missionaries and have specialized care provided in the CNMI.

“Medical missionaries were welcomed in dermatology, oral maxilla facial surgery, and otolaryngology and allowed for patients to be treated by these specialists with minimal cost to CHCC. Orthopedic surgery is also available during emergencies with a contract with an orthopedic surgeon in Guam,” said Muña.

Also in the annual report are the CEO’s plans as well as challenges of the corporation.

In accordance with Public Law 16-51, the CEO has to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the governor that includes current strategic plans for meeting the healthcare needs of the CNMI.