Another child dies, administrator announces resignation, GMH unclean and falling apart: IS IT TIME FOR A RECEIVERSHIP?

A nurse – Isabel Flores – dropped the gauntlet at a legislative oversight hearing about the crisis at Guam Memorial Hospital. And if her revelations about the true conditions at the island’s only public hospital are true, then a conspiracy of mismanaged finances, not enough money from the governor and the legislature, bad hospital management, and no substantive renovation to the facilities has led to the deaths of many patients that may have been covered up by the hospital.

“Their blood is on your hands,” Ms. Flores told senators in a 10-minute lecture laden with information hospital administrator Lillian Perez Posadas and her team failed to notify senators about in their presentation about the present state of GMH. The nurse told senators – especially those who have been in office “five, 10 years,” – that it is inexcusable no plan has been put into action to resolve these issues, and to build a new hospital.

Her testimony changed the trajectory of the oversight hearing, causing senators to turn their stern attention to hospital managers for answers they would not answer directly, with substance, or with assurance.

Therese Terlaje, the legislative speaker who has oversight of hospital issues, pointed out to Ms. Posadas that before the election, the administrator assured senators GMH’s financial situation was stable. Then, after the election last year, problems began to emerge.

“You’ve been there for five years, Lillian, and it’s just getting worse,” Telo Taitague said to Ms. Posadas. “Isn’t there a time for you to say, ‘Okay, I can’t do it? I need to step down from this job and allow somebody else to come in and try and help this hospital?’”

“You know what, senator?” Ms. Posadas interrupted, “Thank you for that idea. Yes, I will step down! Yes, I will retire. I’ve done my time. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Lillian,” Ms. Taitague responded.

“Madam Speaker, may I be excused please?” Ms. Posadas asked Ms. Terlaje. The administrator left the hearing, which was recessed as senators regrouped, then adjourned.

Following the hearing, Ms. Terlaje issued the following statement:

“GMH is facing very serious issues, some of them long-standing, some of them new. While it was clear from their presentation that everyone was working hard and GMH was making progress in some areas, including billing, there were not enough solutions to solve the scale of the problems facing GMH today. It was also clear that money was still available to GMH but is not necessarily the sole solution. I adjourned the hearing after consultation with my colleagues and I am looking to the hospital administration,  the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor, to re-evaluate the situation which looks to be a crisis at this point and to propose new solutions as soon as possible. The Legislature will work together to implement any statutory changes necessary.”

Then, the governor’s spokeswoman, Krystal Paco-San Agustin issued a statement, which did not directly address whether Ms. Posadas will resign and if there’s a plan in place to transition leadership at the failing agency:

“Administrator Perez-Posadas’ actions are the result of senators who care more about saying, “How can I blame you?” than “How can I help you?”

“It’s obvious that a new hospital needs to be built. However, despite constant criticism about GMH facilities, senators did not support building a new hospital at Eagles Field and never offered a plan of their own.

“It is our hope that these senators will now work with the administration to build a new hospital.

“As for the leadership of GMH, only Republican math would suggest that 16 straight years of failed GOP management at GMH could be undone by just over one term with Governor Leon Guerrero.

“Administrator Perez-Posadas has not officially submitted her resignation. For now, GMH continues to operate normally and the Governor is actively speaking with GMH leadership. She will act accordingly going forward.”

Meanwhile, several doctors, nurses, and others close to the hospital’s operations, all of whom wish to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation by the administration, have poured in comments to Kandit since Thursday night exclaiming, almost verbatim: ‘GMH needs to be placed under federal receivership.’

Please watch Ms. Flores’ full testimony here.