HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority appears to have provided the community with “misleading” information when it comes to how many OB-GYNs are available to work at the hospital, according to an OB-GYN hospitalist for the GMH labor and delivery ward.
In response to inquires about the impacts the death of Dr. Jeffrey Gabel has had on the labor and delivery unit, GMH said Friday in a press release that “currently there are 11 OB-GYN doctors with privileges who deliver babies at GMHA.”
But according to Dr. Jonathan Sidell, a full-time OB-GYN at the hospital and the former president of the medical staff, that number is “misleading.”
Sidell told The Guam Daily Post, “There’s a difference between privileges and actually being able to work. In fact, probably a lot of these people that they are privileging have left island.”
According to Sidell, “privileges” are extended for a minimum of two years and remain active for the duration even after a doctor leaves or retires.
GMHA spokesperson Cindy Hanson could not respond immediately to questions about privileges the hospital extends, or whether doctors off island can have privileges but not be present to deliver babies.
The “11” does not match the hospital’s fiscal year 2024 staffing pattern, which at the end of October 2023 showed only two full-time OB-GYNs, Dr. William Vercio and Sidell. It also shows one vacancy for a full-time OB-GYN.
But even that number is not entirely accurate, looking at staffing in terms of full-time equivalents, said Sidell
“For me, what I am qualified to tell you is that (the) number 11 is misleading. We only have about six, when you count up the equivalency, like who are part-time and full-time. A lot of those people aren’t even on island. Maybe they come back and cover someone’s vacation, but active practicing full-time employees are six at the hospital,” Sidell said.
Drs. Sidell, Vercio and Jennifer Linden are the only full-time OB-GYN doctors on GMH’s roster, according to Sidell, who said Drs. Annie Bordallo, Thomas Shieh and Friedrich Bieling are part-time.
“Dr. Teresa Underwood is three-fourths time. And then there’s a collection of five doctors that work one week every three to four months,” Sidell said.
According to Shieh, there is also one OB-GYN from Saipan who takes calls at the hospital.
Sidell, who is retiring in six months, also confirmed that the median age of OB-GYN hospitalists is 64 years old, with doctors such as Sidell, who are working 48 hours a week.
And while the death of Dr. Gabel coupled with the limited pool of OB-GYNs does not induce additional pressure at the hospital, the same can’t be said for OB-GYN patients in general, said Sidell.
“It’s not the physicians that are under pressure, rather, it’s the patients that are under pressure. They can’t find a doctor. … I feel sorry for the patients who are calling me, and they are waiting three to four months to be seen,” Sidell said.
According to Sidell, the bottom line is that the island is short of OB-GYNs.
It’s a problem that the hospital can’t deny, even with a “small number of midwives assisting.”
“With approximately 250 babies born at GMHA per month, the hospital acknowledges the need for more OB-GYNs in Guam. GMHA vigorously recruits to bring more OB-GYNs on staff. However, like with many in-demand specialties, GMHA is competing on a national and international level for these doctors,” GMHA said Friday in a press release.
The rotation of Guam obstetrician-gynecologists ebbs and flows, as Bordallo pointed out a year ago when she said, “People are retiring or thinking about retiring and so it’s harder to get in to see somebody. But again, I can’t think of a specialty where that’s not true.”
GMHA has a difficult time competing with the higher wages and sign-on packages offered to these sought-after physicians by other hospitals, GMHA said in the release.
“These challenges are why GMHA is grateful to the governor’s office and the Legislature for their support to become more competitive in our recruitment efforts,” said GMHA Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas.
Guam Memorial Hospital is seen Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Tamuning.
