Governor makes public his support of hospital board and chairman
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a press release dated Friday, March 25 and released the same day, the Governor’s Office acknowleded that prior to the dismissal of interim CEO, Emau Amosa, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga had met with the Chairman of the American Samoa Medical Center Board of Directors, Dr. Malouamaua Tuiolosega.
The releae quotes correspondence dated March 16, 2022, where Dr. Tuiolosega said, “Thank you for the private audience to meet and discuss LBJ’s happenings, and to convey our immediate and long-term needs. The Board removes itself from being judgmental or blaming; the Board’s role is clear under the law and cardinal to all — to promote LBJ to where it should rightly be.”
Chairman Dr. Tuiolosega included in his correspondence a synopsis of policies that the Board has prioritized to pursue, which includes recommendations given by Governor Lemanu in a prior meeting. ASMC Chairman Dr. Tuiolosega mentions that the Board will immediately work to resolve each issue accordingly, and will report periodically on their progress.
The policies include:
- Re-Classification of LBJ Wages, Compensation, and Pay Structure;
- Recruit native, local, and qualified Doctors, Nurses, and Healthcare Specialists;
- Education, Training, and Certification across the spectrum of the rank and file of LBJ Healthcare providers;
- Integrating Technology in all aspects of LBJ’s operations;
- Evaluating the “new” hospital concept and providing a recommendation for consideration.
The release commends the Chairman and the Board of Directors for their efforts to realign their priorities. “We are in a State of Emergency, and the COVID-19 virus is rapidly spreading throughout our communities,” stated Gov Lemanu. “The highest priority has always been the overall wellbeing of the people of American Samoa. Our infrastructure needs to be concrete and efficient in order to provide the best care for our people,” he said.
The Chairman thanked Governor Lemanu in his closing remarks, “I thank you for the opportunity to share our plan with you, and I sincerely hope you will continue to provide your unconditional support to the Board and LBJ, as we move forward.”
BACKGROUND
Friday, March 18, chairman Dr. Malouamaua Tuiolosega and members of the board announced a unanimous vote for dismissal of LBJ’s recently appointed interim CEO, Emau Amosa, and the appointment of Moefa’auo William T. Emmesley, Jr. to serve in the post for 30 days —“or until such time a permanent CEO is found and installed.”
The release credits chairman Tuiolosega with stating that the purpose of the governance board is not understood at the executive management level and notes, “Although different their perspective, but it is the ”true” Board.”
“A Governance Board engages in decision making, controls, directs, and manages the organization. It requires active participation of its directors in discussions and brainstorming for solutions,” he said