EMS in “negotiations” with LBJ to regain its former building across from the hospital

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Emergency Medical Services is “negotiating” with the LBJ board of directors in an effort to take its old building back, the one located across from the hospital in Fagaalu.

This was confirmed by EMS Chief, Galumalemana Fuapopo Avegalio during an interview with Samoa News.

The building in question was condemned by the Department of Health in 2021 due to unsanitary conditions.

“We have not finalized the decision to get the building back to EMS for our operation but works are underway for that, said Galumalemana.

“There are issues pertaining to the condition of the building hence negotiations with the LBJ board and the Acting Chief Executive Officer.

“The building needs to be renovated before anything else,” he said.

Last year a House hearing revealed that control of the old EMS building was moved to LBJ.

At that time former LBJ CEO, Moefa’auo, along with Search and Rescue Agency (SRA), acting director Galoia and EMS Chief Galumalemana appeared before the House Health committee for a hearing to discuss the reason behind the move to remove EMS from LBJ and put it under the Department of Search and Rescue, a move that was accomplished by Executive Order on Feb. 02, 2023.

It was during the hearing that faipule learned that Moefa’auo and Galoia agreed to trade the EMS building for payroll for the EMS employees.

The agreement, which Samoa News obtained recently, outlined the details and was signed by Moefa’auo and Galoia.

This agreement according to Galumalemana came as a surprise to him and EMS as they were not privy to — nor had they seen — a copy of the agreement.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN LBJ AND SEARCH AND RESCUE

The agreement came about from a subsequent meeting with the Governor after of the “new” hospital update conference took place on Wednesday, July 06, 2022 at 9:45 am at the Governor’s Office, which revealed, as a centerpiece, the dire need of LBJ in terms of clinical space, in order to expand “patient care” services, at the most basic level. For this reason, LBJ's case was brought forward for the Governor's consideration. 

After making an appeal for patient care services, the Governor agreed for the EMS building and its surrounding properties to go back to LBJ for its need for clinical space. In addition, the Governor agreed to allocate $1.2 million for the Search and Rescue Agency (SRA) for FY 2023. 

The caveat is that LBJ would continue to sustain EMS’s payroll (only) and other provisions in said MOA, to the end of December 31, 2022.

According to the memorandum, the purpose of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the American Samoa Medical Center Authority (ASMCA) dab LBJ Tropical Medical center (LBJ/TMC) and the American Samoa Government Search and Rescue Agency (ASG SRA) “is to recognize the importance of partnerships to plan and implement the transition of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from ASMCA- LBJTMC to the newly establishment American Samoa Government (ASG) Search and Rescue Agency (SRA) as issued by Honorable Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga via Executive Order 005-2022 ole 15 June 2022. 

It goes on to note that the “document memorializes the covenant made on 1 July 2022. The parties to this agreement have a common interest to assure a successful transition for the EMS Division from LBJTMC to ASG-SRA. 

“Whereas, the parties agree that LBJTMC will continue to finance the EMS payroll of 80 hours only bi-weekly (no OT, no CT) until the end of Calendar Year (CY) 2022, which is 31 December 2022. All sick leave and annual leave will be transferred for each EMS employees from LBJTMC to ASG-SRA. 

“Whereas ASG_SRA agrees to produce the FY2023 Budget inclusive of EMS to begin on 1 October 2022 and LBJ TMC will not have any financial obligations after 31 December 2022. 

“Whereas, ASG-SRA agrees to vacate the Faga’alu LBJTMC substation building and provide no claims to the building after 1 July 2022. 

“Whereas, the parties agree to perform obligations under this Agreement in a timely manner. 

“In testimony whereof the Parties have duly executed this agreement by their duty authorized officers.”

The MOU is signed by Moefa’auo and Galoia.

Vice Chair of the LBJ Board, Dr Jean Anderson confirmed they are looking into this, in response to questions from Samoa News this week.

“This matter continues to be under discussion, and further discussion between the LBJ Board, EMS officials and Governor's office will occur soon,” she said.

BACKGROUND

Samoa News should point out that part of the problem with the MOU, is that the EMS budget submitted by the government was channeled through the SRA, however the Fono transferred it back to LBJ.

However, according to then CEO Moefa’auo no money was transferred back, only personnel and assets.

As reported by Samoa News in November 2022, the then CEO said, “so when the Fono said the budget for EMS has been returned to the hospital, there is no money.”

Moefa’auo said prior to the transfer the EMS budget was between $1.8 million to $2 million.

Asked why was the EMS transferred without funding, Moefaauo said they made a deal with the Search and Rescue Agency Director, Faamasino Upuese Galoia when the Governor’s Executive Order came in play back in July 2022.

 “There was some leftover money by July and we funded the EMS salaries right up to the closing of the last financial year September 31, 2022 but then we felt sorry for the EMS and carried on paying their salaries up until December 31, 2022.

 “Their salaries are covered for the first quarter for the current financial year and that’s out of the hospital’s budget,” explained the CEO.

According to Moefaauo, the Search and Rescue Agency pleaded with the hospital to pay the EMS personnel salaries for the first quarter and that’s what they did.