Two healthcare providers added to medical referral program

Two health care providers have been added to the CNMI’s list of approved medical referral facilities.

The Department of Public Health has adopted emergency regulations to add University of California San Diego Hospital and Anaheim Memorial Hospital as recognized medical referral sites.

The emergency regulations became effective on Nov. 25, 2005 and will remain in effect for 120 days.

“The Medical Referral Program has identified this additional provider as specializing in performing unique medical procedures and services not available in the CNMI. The [Public Health] secretary would like to expand the medical referral program to allow services at this specialty medical center to further meet the medical needs of CNMI patients,” a public notice issued by Public Health stated.

Currently, there are recognized health care facilities in Guam, California, Texas, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

In Guam, the medical referral sites are Dededo Polymedic Clinic, Espaldan Clinic Inc., Family Medical Clinic, Good Samaritan Clinic, Guam Memorial Hospital, Guam Pacific Medical Clinic, Guam Seventh Day Adventist Clinic, Specialty Clinic, St. Anthony Clinic, The Doctor’s Clinic, Cancer Institute of Guam, Naval Hospital Guam, MR Imaging Group, Guam Eye Clinic, Guam Public Medical Clinic, Simard Cardiology Group, and Guam SurgiCenter.

The approved facilities in California are San Diego Children’s Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital (Los Angeles), and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Patients may also be referred to California Pacific Medical Center, but only for infant heart surgery, kidney transplant, or other highly sophisticated surgical procedures.

The Brown Schools of Central Texas, such as the San Marcos Treatment Center and Health Care Rehabilitation Center, are also a recognized facility.

In Hawaii, the approved facilities for medical referral patients are Kapiolani Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center, Queen’s Medical Center, Rehabilitation Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, St. Francis Medical Center, Straub Clinic and Hospital, Cancer Institute of Maui, Renal Treatment Center, Tripler Army Medical Center, Island Cardiology, Kahi Mohala, and Castle Medical Center.

The medical referral sites in the Philippines are Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medcal Center, Philippine General Hospital, and Asian Hospital and Medical Center.