30 nurses, 4 doctors quit at CHC

 A total of 30 nurses and four doctors at the Commonwealth Health Center have already tendered their resignations amid the ongoing financial crisis at the islands’ lone public hospital.

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Juan N. Babauta assured, however, that the corporation is in constant communication with the federal Medicare office to ensure that the CNMI does not lose its certification in the wake of the declining staffing level at the hospital.

Babauta said yesterday that the 30 nurses resigned mainly so they could withdraw their retirement contributions and are not part of the reduction-in-force efforts being implemented by the corporation.

CHC had 167 nurses when the corporation took over the operations of the hospital in October 2011.

Nursing director Leticia Reyes said during Friday’s board meeting that a big percentage of nurses have expressed their intention to resign should the housing allowance among off-island hires be removed or reduced.

The nurses’ resignation, Babauta noted, “cuts both ways.”

“It’s good because of the reduction-in-force. It’s bad because it’s really going to really cut deep into the staffing level for appropriate patient care, especially with respect to the certification standards of Medicare,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Still, Babauta said that they will not be hiring new nurses to replace those who have resigned. Instead, they are looking at having just a “skeleton staffing” which they can maintain at the various units and wards of the hospital.

Additionally, the hospital will lose in the coming months four of its doctors. Besides Dr. Michael Deary, former director for Medical Affairs who resigned in March, the others who have already given their notices are Dr. Michael Hart, anesthesiologist; Dr. Shun Young, general surgeon; and Dr. Brian Sullivan.

These doctors’ resignation brings down to 22 the total number of doctors at CHC, on top of four physician assistants.

According to Babauta, the exodus of doctors would create a situation where it will be challenging to cover key services at the hospital such as labor and delivery and surgery.

When asked if the corporation plans to hire replacements for the doctors who have already resigned, Babauta said “it depends” and that they will have to work with Medical Affairs director Dr. Jeremy Richards to determine if services can still be continued after the four doctors leave.

“But we’ll make some adjustments accordingly, so long as we’re in consultation with Medicare so that we don’t jeopardize our certification,” added Babauta.

CHC is currently under a state of emergency due to circumstances requiring an immediate infusion of capital to address payroll shortages and vendor payments, among other critical financial issues.