GRMC and GMH Begin Transfer of MCH Patients

(Thursday, October 31, 2018) Guam Regional Medical City and Guam Memorial Hospital will begin the official transfer of Maternal Child Health care from GRMC to GMH. Patients will be transferred from GRMC to GMH via ambulance, in conjunction with the Guam Fire Department. The following is the official timeline for the suspension of MCH services at GRMC and transfer of patients and services to GMH:

• Effective Friday, November 2, 2018, at 7:00 am, Guam Regional Medical City inpatient maternal-child health services, which includes labor and delivery, general pediatrics, pediatric intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit, will no longer be accepting new admissions.
• Effective Friday, November 2, 2018, all pregnant women and children 17 years-old or younger who seek emergency care are advised to go to Guam Memorial Hospital’s emergency department.
• All current MCH inpatients at GRMC will be either discharged home or transferred to GMH.
• Also, at 7:00 am on Friday, November 2, 2018, Guam Fire Department will recognize GMH’s emergency department as the principle destination for all pregnant women and children 17 years-old or younger.
• Although GRMC will no longer provide inpatient pediatrics and obstetrics services, the Emergency Department will continue to adhere to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) for all MCH patients. Any MCH patients seen at the GRMC Emergency or Urgent Care department that are determined to need inpatient admission will be promptly transferred to GMH.

GRMC and GMH are confident the new focus of services at each hospital will have a positive impact on Guam’s healthcare. GRMC will be expanding its adult specialty care services and taking advantage of its previously underutilized second floor. GMH will benefit from the support of staff and resources from GRMC to strengthen its MCH department.