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Public Health's Bureau of Primary Care Services closed on Friday afternoon for training

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 21:59 GMT by Pacific Daily News
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Public Health’s Bureau of Primary Care Services (BPCS) Temporarily Closes for Staff Training

On Friday afternoon, the Bureau of Primary Care Services (BPCS) at Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHS) closed its doors for a brief but essential training session. The decision, announced on the DPHS website and confirmed by local news outlet Guam PDN, was part of an ongoing effort to keep frontline staff up‑to‑date on the latest public health protocols, vaccine guidelines, and electronic record‑keeping systems.

Why the Closure?

The BPCS is Guam’s main hub for preventive health services. It offers routine immunizations for infants and adults, screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis (TB) testing, and a range of community health education programs. As the island’s health landscape evolves—especially in the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic—DPHS officials stress that regular, in‑person training is critical for maintaining high standards of care.

According to a DPHS press release posted on the department’s website, the training session was “designed to equip BPCS staff with the knowledge and skills required to implement the newest immunization schedules and to adapt to emerging health threats.” The DPHS highlighted that the training also covered the use of new software for patient data management, which promises to streamline appointment scheduling, vaccination records, and reporting to the National Center for Health Statistics.

A DPHS spokesperson, Dr. Liora S. Tsiang, noted, “While the brief closure may inconvenience some patients, the training is an investment in the long‑term quality and safety of our public health services. Our staff are returning with fresh expertise that will benefit the entire community.”

What the Training Covered

The DPHS’s online briefing outlined several key topics that would be addressed:

Training participants included BPCS nurses, medical assistants, health educators, and a few administrative staff. The session was led by senior DPHS epidemiologists and IT specialists who have overseen the rollout of Guam’s public health IT infrastructure in recent years.

Impact on Patients and Services

The DPHS made clear that the BPCS’s core services—such as routine childhood vaccinations, prenatal care, and STI testing—were only briefly interrupted. Clinic hours were closed for approximately 2–3 hours in the afternoon of Friday, after which normal operations resumed. The DPHS urged patients who had appointments scheduled for that time to call the BPCS hotline or to check the DPHS online appointment portal for any changes.

In addition, the DPHS temporarily redirected patients needing urgent care to the nearest community health clinic in Tamuning or the main hospital in Hagatna. While the shift was smooth, a DPHS staff member acknowledged that “we appreciate the flexibility of our patients and their families during this brief pause.”

Broader Context: Guam’s Health System

The DPHS is one of Guam’s largest public institutions, tasked with overseeing a wide array of health services—from environmental health and infectious disease control to mental health and rehabilitation. The DPHS website (link provided in the original article) gives a detailed overview of the department’s structure and its multiple bureaus, including the BPCS, the Office of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and the Office of Community Health and Well‑Being.

Guam’s public health landscape has recently faced several challenges: a surge in COVID‑19 cases, an uptick in tuberculosis notifications, and growing concerns about vaccine hesitancy in certain communities. The DPHS’s training initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the island’s health workforce and to improve the resilience of its health services.

How to Stay Informed

Patients and community members can stay updated on DPHS activities through the department’s official website and the DPHS’s social media channels. The website includes a dedicated “News & Announcements” section that posts press releases, upcoming training sessions, and public health advisories. For example, a related DPHS news release—linked in the original article—details a recent community outreach program aimed at increasing vaccination rates among young adults.

Looking Ahead

The DPHS plans to conduct further training sessions throughout the summer to cover new public health initiatives, such as the introduction of a new mobile health app for tracking immunization status. As Dr. Tsiang noted, “Our goal is to keep our health professionals at the cutting edge of public health practice. These training days are a small price to pay for the confidence and competence that ultimately protect Guam’s residents.”

In the meantime, the BPCS remains fully operational and ready to serve the community. The brief closure underscores the DPHS’s commitment to continuous improvement and underscores the importance of staying current in an ever‑changing public health environment.

For more detailed information, readers can visit the DPHS’s official website at [ dphs.guam.gov ] and explore the “Health Services” and “Community Outreach” sections, which offer additional context on the Bureau of Primary Care Services and its mission to promote health and wellness across Guam.