Hospital CEO issues memorandum placing Dr. Salepaga on paid leave

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — LBJ hospital’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Iotamo Salepaga has been placed on “leave with pay” effective November 4, 2022.

This was confirmed in a General Memorandum by the hospital CEO, Moefaauo Bill Emmsley and was sent to the hospital’s chiefs, directors, managers and general staff, while in the interim it designates authority to Dr. Akapusi Ledua as acting CMO until further notice.

Samoa News first reported last week that when asked about the ‘rumor’ during an interview, the hospital CEO dismissed reports that the LBJ Board is looking to “remove” Dr Saleapaga.

 “The last time I met with the hospital board we spoke about the need for a performance evaluation for Dr Saleapaga, but nothing [was said] about removing him from his current post,” he said at the time and continued, 

“This is all part of review by the Board for the hospital’s management team and should have been done in the middle of his three year contract,” said the LBJ CEO Moefaauo in the interview with Samoa News.

He said Dr Saleapaga’s performance review had been postponed due to the COVID pandemic.

Two days later the CEO issued a memo appointing Dr Akapusi Ledua as Acting CMO.

 “Effective immediately the Board has placed Dr Iotamo Saleapaga on leave with pay. As such, the Board in turn has appointed Dr Akapusi Ledua as Acting CMO until further notice.

 “Meanwhile, Dr Ledua has full authority to act as LBJ’s CMO directing, managing and operating in such capacity to oversee all aspects of the Medical Department, the Ancillary Division and their entire staff and respective function,” said the CEO.

“Thus please provide Dr Ledua with your usual support, full cooperation and in all manner of courtesies, befitting of the Office of the CMO.”

Copies of the memo were sent Dr Malouamaua Tuiolosega Chairman of the Board; the directors and Thomas Jones the hospital’s legal counsel.

Samoa News reached out to Dr Saleapaga but efforts were unsuccessful.

As reported earlier, the hospital CEO said,  “… in a proper prospective any decision pertaining to Dr Saleapaga is the prerogative of the hospital board and the board should also seek my professional opinion, if that is what they anticipate to do,” he said.

Asked during last week’s interview whether there are any existing guidelines when it comes to performance evaluations of managers of the hospital, Moefaauo said it depends on the contractual obligations stipulated in the contract signed with each manager.

Asked whether the board is conducting performance evaluations for all the hospital management, the CEO said no.

According to Moefaauo, the CMO’s contract is for three years and will come to an end next year November.