HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The findings of the mold assessment report conducted at the Guam Memorial Hospital were no surprise, William Kando told the hospital authority’s board of trustees on Wednesday when asked if the report identified areas of concern.
“We already knew from the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) assessment, and we knew from our internal investigations. But in the report itself, it confirmed (mold). It aligned with the assessments that were already done, where those warm pockets are. … None of it was a surprise to us and what we need to do (to) those areas that we need to mitigate pending the long-term fixes,” said Kando, the hospital’s associate administrator for operations.
The indoor air quality report and mold testing report, completed on Oct. 30, 2023, led to the hospital contracting an industrial hygienist to conduct a mold survey for the hospital. The survey report was completed Dec. 11, 2023.
“From that survey report we were able to complete Typhoon Mawar mold mitigation (and) plan corrective action. So we’ve summarized, and that document is with you now. You can see exactly not only what we are doing post-Typhoon Mawar but what we’ve been doing and some of the projects we’ve completed since the Army Corps of Engineers assessment, back in November 2019,” Kando told the board.
Kando asserted that the reports before the board laid out a road map on how to phase in the hospital’s corrective action plan.
“These reports are saying, ‘Fix your ventilation system.’ And a big part of fixing of that centralization system to prevent any mold growth proliferation is replacing the air units, replacing the envelope of the hospital which is compromised. That’s why we are going to fix the envelope to prevent water intrusion. We are replacing mechanical systems now. We replaced mechanical systems on the rooftop. Now we’re extending that to the envelope of the exterior and interior envelope, … being the front and middle courtyards,” Kando said. “Basically, any time we see mold developing on walls or ceiling tiles, we’re cleaning it immediately. We are replacing ceiling tiles immediately. The mold report is saying any areas. They may have walled off specific areas of drywall that need to be removed to replace, but they’re saying, ‘Do not do it. Do not do any kind of renovation until you fix the ventilation system and envelope. Otherwise, 24 up to 48 hours later, you’re going to have mold growth.’”
The plan involves immediate, intermediate and long-term corrective actions which are laid out based on the reports, Kando told the board.
“Basically, we are following their guidance to the T,” Kando said.
Replacing chillers and air-conditioning units and fixing the envelope are long-term fixes, but, meanwhile, the hospital is addressing mold in other ways, he said.
“We are hitting those areas that we know are warm areas. … We are bringing in other measures in terms of safety measures to include humidifiers, HEPA filters (and) portable (air conditioners). We are getting close to doing the … (obstetrics and gynecology) ward and other areas. … That’s our contingency, our mitigation,” Kando said.
The presence of mold at the hospital has been a concern raised by the community, one which recently has prompted the Guam Medical Association, the island’s largest nonprofit group of medical professionals, to reach out to the attorney general of Guam with grave concern. A letter from the association voiced support for federal receivership of the hospital to address safety concerns.
Sen. Telo Taitague, who was present via Zoom for the board meeting, asked during the public comment period what the hospital board’s position is on the threat of federal receivership.
“I think that’s something that will play out on the federal side. I don’t know. On the legal side, I am not sure that there’s sufficient grounds for it at this time, but that’s really for the federal government to decide. I do think that a lot of the mitigation measures and other things work positively in GMH’s favor. GMH is a public hospital (and) we are always going to have financial (issues), … But I also think that a federal receivership would set us further back on the progress. I think GMH looks forward to working with the governor and Legislature. I don’t think a receivership is appropriate at this time,” Jeremiah Luther, GMH’s attorney, said.
“I have not received anything at all in terms of a notification or a letter recommendation from the community and I know that the Guam Medical Association published a letter and sent a letter to the attorney general stating that, but the board has not received a copy of that letter or the opportunity to even receive that letter,” GMH Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas said.
GMH’s attorney concurred. “We haven’t received any specific letters requesting information. (The attorney general) has requested some information on various topics, but he has not contacted us directly on the issue of federal receivership. And so if he has any questions about that, he is welcome to contact us (and) work with us. We are happy to work with any government officials that have an interest in improving GMH and the patient care we provide every day.”
“Sounds good, sounds like what you’re supposed to say, but right now, I think you need to make a little more of an effort to not go into receivership. That is political mumbo-jumbo at this point.” Sen. Taitague said.
A section of Guam Memorial Hospital in need of maintenance is seen in Tamuning on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
