Dialysis Supplies Lost At Sea Result In Closure of GMH Outpatient UnitGuam - One casualty of the loss at sea of 6 containers from the Horizon Hunter is GMH's outpatient hemodialysis unit.
A local supplier says their Dialysate solution was inside one of those containers that went overboard in a storm a few weeks back.
As a result GMH Friday announced that it must temporarily close its outpatient hemodialysis unit for two weeks. The closure of the outpatient unit is effective today, Saturday.
GMH currently provides three-times-a-week dialysis to 43 patients on an outpatient basis, in addition to a separate inpatient hemodialysis unit. GMH currently only has enough dialysate solution in stock to keep its inpatient unit operating.
A release from GMH states that all of the affected patients have been accommodated at one of three private dialysis centers on the island: Guam Dialysis Center, Guam Renal Care and Renal Center of Guam. The three private centers, which use a different type of solution, have ample stock of their supplies.
The release says the hospital purchases dialysate solution from two different vendors. The second vendor is awaiting a shipment from the U.S. mainland, which is expected to arrive within two weeks. That's when GMH's outpatient unit is expected to reopen.
And according to the release, GMH’s payments to both companies are current. And the care of the patients will not be interrupted and will still be overseen by the same doctors. Patients’ existing payments arrangements will be accommodated, and GMH will help patients who need help arranging transportation to one of the private centers. For more information, patients may call GMH at 647-2237/2429
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3128:gmh-to-temporarily-close-outpatient-hemodialysis-unit&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
