04 December 2014 – Philippine Consul General Marciano R. de Borja paid a courtesy call on November 24 on Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) Chief Operating Officer Gloria Long to discuss the hospital’s opening and the status of their efforts to employ nurses from the Philippines.

Ms. Long told Consul General de Borja that the opening of the new hospital, an affiliate of The Medical City, will be early next year. Some Filipino doctors that were hired by GRMC from the mainland are already on the island and are eager to start providing health services to Guam residents once the hospital opens.

Ms. Long also confirmed that their recruitment agency in the Philippines has processed 54 registered nurses who will be deployed by March 2015 to allow them some time for training before the hospital opens the following month. Meanwhile, an additional 49 registered nurses have been interviewed by the GRMC Chief Nurse and are now completing the requirements for employment. GRMC expects to hire up to 178 registered nurses in all once the hospital becomes fully operational.

GRMC also expects to hire laboratory technologists and x-ray technicians from the Philippines but they will have to qualify under U.S. certification procedures.

The Consul General and Ms. Long agreed to organize a post-arrival orientation seminar for their employees once they arrive from the Philippines. END