Amidst the controversies involving the only government civilian in the island, the CEO of Guam Memorial Hospital Authority is now in direct rap.
This developed as Governor Eddie Baza Calvo issued a Memo to GMHA’s Chairman of the Board Lee Weber asking the latter to conduct and investigation on the CEO’s alleged misuse or abuse of his government issued credit card.
The October 12 Memo states that it was brought to the Governor’s attention that Ted Lewis, GMHA Administrator/CEO allegedly dines using the hospital-paid credit card “almost every work day.” It further adds that while the Governor understands “the need for a CEO to dine and entertain associates, especially investors or those he or she is dealing with, government administrators must be mindful of their fiduciary responsibilities. This is a more heightened concern for the hospital, which runs at a constant deficit because of its open-ended mandate.” The Governor adds that “No one at GMH should be racking up thousands of dollars in monthly restaurant charges on a government credit card.”
Lewis for his part explained that it is necessary for his job to bring out his colleagues, mostly the doctors for dinner because these doctors are so busy and by spending an hour or two with them over dinner is an investment, most especially so with the presence of a competitor (referring to Guam Regional Medical City). He further adds that it is a practice that CEOs should build rapport with the doctors as they are a key asset to the hospital.
Lewis however belied allegations of “almost” daily dining as this is practically not possible, stating that he is busy and the doctors are busy as well. On the average, he states that he dines with his doctors twice a week.
On the “thousands of dollars” restaurant charges a month, he states this is bloated. While there may be a month when the bill reached two thousands or thereabouts, that was when there were delegates that he needs to go out for dinner with.
Lewis, however, surprisingly does not know his representation expense cap, thus he does not also know if he spending within the budget./The Junction News Team
