News and more news...

The missing scooter has been found! It was found somewhere up in Marpo Heights, in good condition, and even with gas still in the tank! The police have it now, but will give it back to us once they are through 'processing' it.

The clinic is in turmoil as the resident doctor has decided not to renew his contract. Both Terri (a Physician Assistant) and Arly Long (a Nurse Practitioner) can only work while under the supervision of a medical doctor. It is now up to the 'powers that be' to find a solution to the problem (otherwise the island will be without medical care). This could be giving them permission to treat patients by using a doctor on Saipan--it is very common to use doctors via phone when in remote areas--or by providing a new doctor. Since it is very hard to make a new doctor suddenly appear (even Saipan is having difficulty keeping doctors), I am sure they will have to work out some type of remote supervision. In any case, there are a lot of people running around trying to keep the clinic up and running.

Here is a copy of the article that appeared in today's paper:

Saipan Tribune
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Tinian loses full-time doctor
By Kristi Eaton

With the recent resignation of Dr. Ronaldo Toledo, Tinian Health Center will only have a medical doctor on weekends until a replacement is hired full time.

Toledo resigned unexpectedly last week, leaving the facility without a full-time doctor, said Alexander Gorman, Department of Public Health legal counsel.

The facility is only required to have a medical doctor 30 percent of the time. A nurse practitioner and physician's assistant are working full time at the Center.

“At this point, [the Center] is meeting legal requirements,” Gorman said.

The Center is trying to fill the position immediately, he said.

Gorman said the lack of a full-time doctor would not change patient care.

“Any major problems are shipped [to Saipan],” he added.

Gorman said doctors from Saipan would continue to go to Tinian Friday through Sunday until a replacement is found.

H. Christine Brown, a family practice doctor from Saipan, traveled to Tinian over the weekend to provide care.

Gorman said he is unsure if Brown, who was a doctor at Island Medical Center at one time, will return this weekend or if another doctor will travel to the island.