Opening of new dialysis center OK’d

After several years of waiting, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finally approved the opening of the Commonwealth Health Center’s new Hemodialysis Center, according to a Department of Public Health announcement yesterday.

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez and acting deputy secretary for hospital administration Esther Muna said that DPH received the go-ahead from Medicare on Monday, Sept. 12, after a three-day inspection and dry run.

Medicare, according to the two officials, certified 25 hemodialysis stations and two isolations at the new unit. CHC had 19 stations certified at the old unit, which will be officially shut down today, Sept. 15.

“We just completed our exit interview with Medicare surveyors that have been here for the past three days to inspect the new hemodialysis facility. As of Sept. 12, 2011, they allowed us to start operating the new hemodialysis facility with only half of the total number of patients on hemodialysis being dialyzed in the new facility. As of today, they have given us permission to move the entire hemodialysis program into the new facility. Starting tomorrow, the old facility will be shut down and all dialysis treatment will take place at the new dialysis center,” said Villagomez.

He acknowledged Dr. Sherleen Osman and her team at the hemodialysis unit for spearheading the patients’ transfer.

Villagomez, in an interview with Saipan Tribune on Tuesday, said that half of the dialysis patients being treated at the old dialysis center were transferred to the new facility on Tuesday as part of the Medicare dry run.

“We started on Tuesday treating our dialysis patients in the new facility and we have already transferred half of our dialysis patients from the old hospital and they were so happy,” said Villagomez, who visited and talked with patients during their treatment.

There are currently 159 hemodialysis patients in the Commownealth—double the 80 that were being treated in 2001.

Of the current number, 107 are being treated at the CHC while 52 are with a private hemodialysis clinic on island.

In Tuesday’s dry run, Villagomez said that nine patients were treated each shift. The dialysis center has three shifts: morning, afternoon, and evening.

“The dry-run went very smoothly and we’re very pleased,” he said.

Villagomez said he already reported to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial the progress at the facility and a formal ceremony will be held at a later date.

There are a total of 38 stations in the new dialysis center, estimated to treat 27 patients per shift each day.

In an early interview with Karlo Reyes, unit manager of the CHC hemodialysis unit, he said they are ready for the full operation of the new center with 28 nurses, one dietician, one social worker, and a part-time nephrologist. These personnel will work in three shifts every day from 5am through 9pm. A dialysis patient receives an average of four to five hours of treatment for every shift, including preparation.

The dialysis project was initiated in 2004 during the administration of former governor Juan N. Babauta. Its opening was delayed for years due to lack of funding and Medicare certification.