Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The LBJ Tropical Medical Center announced the establishment of a partnership that will greatly enhance dialysis services in the community by extending dialysis services to rural areas in the territory.

This marks the first instance of delivering such a critical medical service within the patients' residences.

Made possible through a partnership with Renasolve Inc., a team of dedicated nephrologists committed to enhancing kidney care services in underserved rural areas. The collaboration with LBJ aims to bring high-quality care with cost-efficiency, focusing on adequate inpatient dialysis and long-term staffing solutions.

LBJ Chief Executive Officer Dr. Akapusi Ledua signed a memorandum of agreement with Dr. Rubin Chandran, the Chief Executive Officer of Renasolve Inc. Dr. Ledua said Renasolve specializes in offering dialysis services throughout the United States. This strategic alliance is focused on elevating and advancing the quality of dialysis services provided at the Tropical Medical Center.

Dr. Ledua emphasized that this collaborative effort will significantly enhance the support provided to the hospital's dialysis patients.

"We are excited to announce the establishment of a partnership that will greatly enhance dialysis services in the community. Through this collaboration, Renasolve will support our daily dialysis services, drawing on their extensive experience in providing similar services in rural areas of America,” said Dr Ledua.

“This agreement results from months of negotiations, discussions, and meticulous planning on best delivering and supporting our dialysis services in American Samoa.

He said that the partnership is poised to elevate LBJ services to new heights. Plans are to establish an outpatient clinic at LBJ and extend support to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients.

“Additionally, we aim to decentralize the dialysis services, making them more accessible and convenient for our patients by offering treatments at home and in community-based settings."

Dr. Ledua expressed that realizing these plans has always been the long-standing vision of the Board and the hospital's management. They are committed to bringing these plans to fruition and are dedicated to positively impacting the hospital's future for the people of American Samoa.

Renasolve Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rubin Chandran made similar statements saying that Renasolve comprises a dedicated team of nephrologists fervently devoted to enhancing the quality of kidney care services in rural areas lacking adequate support.

By leveraging strategic partnerships with diverse hospitals, their principal objective is to link superior care with cost-effective solutions, prioritizing the provision of effective inpatient dialysis treatment and establishing sustainable long-term staffing assistance.

As a nephrology specialist, Dr. Chandran affirmed the organization's commitment to enhancing patient care for individuals afflicted with kidney disease, both those reliant on dialysis and those suffering from chronic kidney disease. This commitment demonstrates a steadfast dedication to long-term improvement in kidney disease management.

“The physicians at LBJ will be able to consult with us, and we are establishing collaborative ties with local physicians and the dialysis clinic to ensure optimal care for patients afflicted with all forms of chronic kidney disease. Our paramount objective is to exhaust all efforts to delay the progression to the point where dialysis becomes necessary," Dr. Chandran said.

"What is notably promising is our initiative to introduce home-based dialysis services to the island, allowing patients to undergo treatment within their domestic environments, a practice recognized for significantly improving quality of life and considered preferable by patients."

"We are concurrently dedicated to devising a far-reaching strategic plan aimed at dispersing dialysis services geographically, moving away from the centralized model currently represented by the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.

“Our vision entails establishing dialysis clinics in Tafuna and more remote areas of the island, ensuring enhanced accessibility and convenience for patients seeking treatment away from the central medical facility."