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Togiola Welcomes Critical U.S. Report On Territory's Medical Care

By Fili Sagapolutele in Pago Pago
Tuesday: September 30, 2008

American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono says he is pleased that the U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General has issued a critical report outlining problems faced by LBJ Medical Center.

Togiola, speaking on his weekly radio program, said the report, which includes other insular areas, will be discussed during the Interior-sponsored two-day Health Summit that opens today in Honolulu.

Togiola said he is pleased that the Inspector General’s office traveled to the territory to carry review the situation faced by the local medical center, adding he has been urging the Interior Department and federal Veterans Affairs Administration to provide the financial assistance needed by the local facility.

He said the report clearly shows that there are long standing problems at the medical center, and nothing has been done by the Interior Department to find solutions to the two main issues -- lack of proper equipment and medical specialists.

The governor pointed out that appropriate funding is the only way to resolve these issues. He said specialists such as heart and kidney physicians are highly paid and there is just not enough money to cover the high salaries in the territorial budget.

The report said one of the LBJ Center’s most serious problems is recruiting and retaining physicians and overworking the ones it does have.

Staffers are quoted in the report saying that low salaries and a lack of benefits are the reasons the hospital isn’t able to attract specialists or skilled medical personnel.

Togiola said the government has spent thousands of dollars into sending locals students to be educated in the U.S. as physicians but the problem LBJ faces is that these students opt to not return to work at the hospital.

He said government continues to remind these students of the wish of American Samoa for them to return home to work at the local hospital.

The Interior Department report said physicians at the LBJ Center are “left making guesses about patient diagnoses” due to a lack of medical specialists and proper diagnostic equipment.

Togiola said these types of statement put fear in the community and he urged the public not to be alarmed.

According to the governor, the report was issued to coincide with the Interior-sponsored Health Summit being today and tomorrow in Honolulu. The report will be among the topics of discussions as well as finding solutions to address specific concerns cited by report.

Togiola promised to brief the community upon his return following the Health Summit. The governor left Sunday night and returns Thursday.

Also attending the health meeting is LBJ chief executive officer Patricia Tindall, Health Department director Utoofili A. Maga and LBJ senior personnel, who will also provide reports, said Togiola.

The governor said he is also pleased that the secretaries of the federal departments of Health and Human Service and Veterans Affairs will be present at the meeting so that many other issues could be discussed with them dealing with health care in
American Samoa.

See also:

U.S. Affiliated Islands Health Care: At The Crossroads Of Total Breakdown