The hospital board has stepped into the issue regarding the contract of the Chief of Pediatric Services, Dr. James Marrone after the Chief Medical Director, Dr Iotamo Saleapaga in April gave him a non-negotiable contract.

The board last month sent out a resolution regarding the contract, in an email which was leaked to Samoa News dated June 4, 2015.

Chairman of the Board, Mase Akapo told the hospital CEO Taufete’e Faumuina and Medical Director Dr. Saleapaga to renew Marrone’s contract for another two years, with an option of a one year extension. They were also told that Dr. Marrone is to be given a $5,000 increase in salary.

However, the Board, did not give Dr. Marrone his usual housing allowance, noting that it “will be reduced by $400 a month.” In the resolution, Mase stated that Dr. Marrone will receive all the other benefits offered to other contract doctors.

Meanwhile Assistant Medical Director, Dr Annie Fuavai told Samoa News on Friday the decrease in housing for the Chief Pediatric Services is because the hospital is now standardizing all housing for all of their contract employees, with only $500 allocated to housing monthly, with or without dependents. She also told Samoa News that they did not decrease Dr. Marrone’s salary, just the housing allowance. Samoa News understands that Dr. Marrone's contract was for $118,000. Dr. Fuavai then declined to comment on the matter.

Samoa News should point out that if the hospital has reduced Dr. Marrone’s housing by $400 a month, and given him a raise $5,000 for a year (12 months), then the total of the rent reduction for a year of $4,800 ($400x 12months) makes his ‘raise’ only $200.

Dr. Marrone told Samoa News that he’s not authorized to talk to the media and declined to comment on the matter. Samoa News also notes that the letters mentioned in the article did not come from Dr. Marrone, but from another source.

BACKGROUND

Prior to the Board’s intervention in the matter, in April, Dr. Saleapaga informed Dr. Marrone that the contract given to him was “not negotiable.” 

The April 22, 2015 letter to Dr. Marrone, which was leaked to Samoa News, says, “regrettably, the terms of the employment contract presented to you for execution are not negotiable.” The letter further notes that while the hospital values his service, talent and expertise in the medical profession, "this institution is in a financial predicament that makes it impossible to meet your fiduciary request."

Dr. Saleapaga further says that both contract employees and career service medical staff members are enduring the same obstacles. In fact, career service have all experienced (and still are) receiving no increment in salary for the past few years, according to Saleapaga.

He further stated that “it is our hope you are able to recognize the value of LBJ’s financial contribution throughout the entire time you served as an employee of LBJ, such as, approximately $45,000 in salary increases, the assistance of student loan repayment, the high amount in housing subsidies over the years (you were paid the most, even with no dependents) and the other benefits that we continue to give (airfare back home, etc).”

Dr. Saleapaga went on to say that Dr. Marrone is “the highest paid physician in the facility making more than what the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Office are receiving.” Saleapaga further told Dr. Marrone that if he feels the offer cannot be accepted, “then, as per your contract, we have no choice but to let this letter serve as our 90 day notice of termination.”