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Nonprofit hospital for children on Tinian for outreach program
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Posted on Jun 23 2012
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 non-profit hospitals across North America, extended its helping arm to the Commonwealth after conducting an outreach program to the children of Tinian.
Tinian Health Center acting resident director Freddy Hofschneider disclosed that visiting doctors were on Tinian center yesterday where they treated and provided care to 24 total patients from the island.
Hofschneider said the following are the visiting medical providers who arrived on island last Thursday: Dr. Jonathan Pellett, Orthopoedic; Cherlyn Caneda, nurse practitioner; and Sandy Zuberan, outreach program coordinator of Shriners Hospital for Children.
Hofschneider said Shriners hospital provides care for children with bone, joint, and neuromuscular conditions in Hawaii and throughout the Asia/Pacific region from locations such as American Samoa, Chuuk, Fiji, Guam, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and the CNMI.
Children up to age 18 with certain medical conditions and who are eligible for care receive all services in a family-centered environment regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. Tinian Health Center, he said, extends appreciation to the hospital staff for their continued commitment in visiting THC facility and providing care to the children who have special medical needs.
Hofschneider said this is not the first-time Shriners conducted an outreach on Tinian. He disclosed that the hospital has been visiting the island twice a year.
THC has been finding difficulty in hiring a full-time physician. Since the departure of Dr. Steven Lebamoff last year, a replacement has yet been identified.
According to the resident director, THC currently has a regular rotation of medical doctor and physician assistant from Commonwealth Health Center who provides continuous medical treatment to Tinian patients.
He said recruitment efforts are ongoing for the doctor position and which he indicated getting some positive feedback. Hofschneider said the corporation’s chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta is closely working with THC on this effort.
