LBJ Tropical Medical Center

Last updated

LBJ Tropical Medical Center
Lbj tropical medical center.png
LBJ Tropical Medical Center
Geography
Location Faga'alu, Maoputasi County, American Samoa
Coordinates 14°17′25″S170°41′08″W / 14.2903°S 170.6855°W / -14.2903; -170.6855
Organisation
Funding Public hospital
Type District General
Services
Emergency department Yes
Beds150
History
OpenedJune 6, 1968
Links
Website lbjtmc.org
Lists Hospitals in American Samoa

Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center is the rural general hospital in American Samoa, and is the only public hospital located in Faga'alu, Maoputasi County. It has been ranked among the best hospitals in the Pacific Ocean. It is home to an emergency room and there are doctors on duty at all hours. [1] [2] It is a 150-bed facility. [3] It includes TB, leprosy and obstetric units. [4] The hospital was built in 1968 and is operating under a $50 million budget as of 2017. The executive director is Taufete'e John Faumuina. [5]

Contents

History

The government condemned nearly 20 acres (8.1 ha) for a new hospital in Faga'alu Valley in the 1960s. The total estimated cost of the project was $3.5 million. The Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Tropical Medical Center opened on June 6, 1968. The first admitted patient was a baby about to be delivered. He received the name Lyndon. Soon after its start, the hospital was acclaimed to be the best medical facility in the region. The opening staff consisted of 300 locals and a small cadre of stateside professionals. [6] A U.S. government record stated that in 1969 the number of employees, two doctors and one dentist, "was dangerously low" but that since then more doctors were hired. [7]

A 1971 study found the hospital services offered at LBJ to be compared favorably with services offered in the mainland at health care facilities of comparable size. The government began sending more students for training in New Zealand and Fiji, and nurses for RN training in Hawai'i. New programs in the 1970s offered maternal and child health education, health statistics, chronic and communicable disease control, filariasis control, and mental health. In 1978, the Maternal Child Health and Crippled Children Services were introduced. Renal dialysis equipment arrived and a special unit was organized. It soon became one of the most valuable additions to local healing services as kidney diseases increased. Women's Auxiliary later emerged and provided equipment and other forms of assistance to medical and nursing staff. [8]

On August 23, 1982, the hospital announced new changes to the prices: in-patient, $20 per day; out-patient, $2 per visit; for uninsured patients: in-patient, $201 per day; out-patient, $5.70 per visit. Director of Health Dr. Nofo Siliga claimed the revenues were needed in order to pay for improvements, purchase better equipment, and hire more physicians. The negative reaction was immediate and the Legislature held meetings regarding hospital prices. The Cancer Society joined LBJ in a breast cancer awareness campaign. In October 1983, an updating of the major indicators of territorial health status showed significant improvement in every major area. American Samoans were living longer than ever before, premature deaths were lower, and there was a significant reduction in the incidence of several important preventable diseases. The mortality rate was the lowest of all five inhabited U.S. territories. [9]

Circa 1993 U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye criticized the conditions at LBJ. [10]

In 2013, the LDS Church donated a digital mammography and biopsy machine to the hospital. [11]

In September 2019, it was reported in Samoa News that hospital CEO Faumuina John Faumuina had informed local lawmakers of challenges with recruiting Samoan doctors and nurses. The hospital's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2020 totaled $50.78 million, which is a $68,500 decrease from the approved FY 2019 budget. As of September 2019, LBJ's debt was about $5 million. Its largest revenue sources as of 2019 were $16 million from Medicaid, $8 million in subsidies from the U.S. Department of the Interior, and $10 million from Medicare. [12]

In October 2019, the hospital performed its first knee replacement surgery with help from the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), which contributed specialized equipment valued at around $800,000 USD and provided training for local doctors. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. P. Lutali</span> American Samoan politician

Aifili Paulo Lauvao, was twice governor of American Samoa. The founder of the U.S territory's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Tali Coleman</span> American Samoa politician (1919–1997)

Peter Tali Coleman was an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Coleman was the first and only person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa between 1956 and 1961 and later became the territory's first and third popularly elected governor from 1978 to 1985 and 1989 to 1993, serving a total of three elected terms. In between, he had served in different administrative positions for Pacific islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Samoa Community College</span> Land-grant community college in Mapusaga, American Samoa

American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is a public land-grant community college in the village of Mapusaga, American Samoa. Only legal residents of American Samoa who have graduated from high school or obtained a General Equivalency Diploma are admitted to ASCC.

Utulei or ʻUtulei is a village in Maoputasi County, in the Eastern District of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. Utulei is traditionally considered to be a section of Fagatogo village, the legislative capital of American Samoa, and is located on the southwest edge of Pago Pago Harbor. Utulei is the site of many local landmarks: The A. P. Lutali Executive Office Building, which is next to the Feleti Barstow Library; paved roads that wind up to a former cablecar terminal on Solo Hill; the governor's mansion, which sits on Mauga o Alii, overlooking the entrance to Goat's Island, and the lieutenant governor's residence directly downhill from it; the Lee Auditorium, built in 1962; American Samoa's television studios, known as the Michael J. Kirwan Educational Television Center; and the Rainmaker Hotel. Utulei Terminal offers views of Rainmaker Mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aunuʻu, American Samoa</span> Island in American Samoa, United States

Aunuʻu is a small volcanic island off the southeastern shore of Tutuila in Saʻole County, American Samoa. It has a land area of 374.83 acres, and a 2010 census population of 436 persons. Politically, it is a part of the Eastern District, one of the two primary political divisions of American Samoa.

Aūa is a village on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is located along American Samoa Highway 001, and is the southern terminus of American Samoa Highway 006. Aūa is located at the foothills of Mount Peiva on the eastern shore of Pago Pago Bay. The hamlet of Leloaloa is also a part of Aūa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leone, American Samoa</span> Village in American Samoa, United States

Leone is the second-largest city on Tutuila Island's west coast. The village is on the south-west coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Leone was the ancient capital of Tutuila Island. Leone was also where the Samoan Islands’ first missionary, John Williams, visited on October 18, 1832. A monument in honor of Williams has been erected in front of Zion Church. Its large church was the first to be built in American Samoa. It has three towers, a carved ceiling and stained glass. Until steamships were invented, Leone was the preferred anchorage of sailing ships which did not risk entering Pago Pago Harbor. Much early contact between Samoans and Europeans took place in Leone. In the early 20th century, Leone was one of the centers for the Mau movement in American Sāmoa.

Nuʻuuli is a village on the central east coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on a peninsula several miles up from Pago Pago International Airport. Nuʻuuli is located between Pago Pago International Airport and Coconut Point. It is a shopping district which is home to stores, groceries and many more shops. In the early 20th century, Nuʻuuli was the headquarters for the Mau movement in American Sāmoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tafuna, American Samoa</span> Village in American Samoa, United States of America

Tafuna is a village in Tualauta County, Western District, American Samoa. It is the most populous village in American Samoa, with a population of 7,988 according to the 2020 U.S. census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Samoa Power Authority</span>

The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) is a government-run public utility company providing electricity, water, wasterwater, and waste disposal services within American Samoa.

Fagaʻalu is a village in central Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is also known as Fagaʻalo. It is located on the eastern shore of Pago Pago Harbor, to the south of Pago Pago. American Samoa's lone hospital, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, is located in Fagaʻalu. The village is centered around Fagaalu Stream.

ʻIliʻili is a village in the southwest of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located seven miles inland, southwest of Pago Pago, between the villages of Futiga and Vaitogi. It is in Tuālāuta County. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, ʻIliʻili has a population of 3,073, making it the third-most populated village in American Samoa.

Samoana High School (SHS) is a prominent high school in Utulei, a community in Maoputasi County, Eastern District, American Samoa. It is a part of the American Samoa Department of Education.

The Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium, also called Fale Laumei in Samoan, is the largest indoor meeting space in the United States territory of American Samoa. It is located in the village of Utulei, surrounded by other government buildings. The main body of the building is a roughly ovoid structure, with a curved roof that is reminiscent of the thatch roofs of traditional Samoan structures. The auditorium was built in 1962 under orders from Governor Hyrum Rex Lee as part of a major initiative to modernize the territory's infrastructure and facilities. It was built by a construction squadron of the United States Navy, and was completed in time for the 1962 South Pacific Conference. It was later named in honor of Lee, who was the territory's longest-serving governor, and oversaw much of its modernization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vailoatai, American Samoa</span> Village in American Samoa, United States

Vailoatai is a village in southwestern Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. It is located on the eastern end of Leone Bay. The village is known for its beautiful malae, nested along the island's rugged southern coast and lined by the fale tali mālō of its village chiefs.

Pavaʻiaʻi is a village in the Western District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It borders Mapasagafou and Faleniu to the north, ʻIliʻili to the east, Futiga to the south, and Malaeloa to the west. It is located in Tuālāuta County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tualatai County</span> County in American Samoa, United States

Tuālā-tai County is one of the five counties that make up the Western District of American Samoa.

Satala is one of Pago Pago’s constituent villages and is located in Pago Pago Bay on Tutuila Island. Satala is in Maoputasi County in the Eastern District of the island. It is home to the historic Satala Cemetery, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and the government-owned Ronald Reagan Marina Railway Shipyard.

Lauliʻi is a village on the eastern side of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is located in Sua County. Entering the village of Lauliʻi, one has to climb a small hill where a lighthouse is located. The village's rugby club is named after the lighthouse — Moli ole Ava. It is one of the most successful and oldest clubs in the territory. Many well-known players have emerged from Lauliʻi, such as Vui Eli Tagaloa, the current coach, Ropeti Taula, and others. The village is divided into two sections: Lauliʻituai and Lauliʻifou. As of Late 2020 there are 6 Christian Worship Churches in Lauliʻi. The Methodist, The Catholic, The London Missionary Society, Church, Assembly of God, Church of Christ Latter Day Saints Lauliʻi Ward, Saint John's Episcopal Church. Breakers Point Naval Guns, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places is located at Tafananai near Lauliʻifou.

Itūʻau, together with Aitūlagi, make up the village of Malaeloa.

References

  1. ↑ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western Samoa and American Samoa. Lonely Planet. Page 161. ISBN   9780864422255.
  2. ↑ United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources. Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs (2017). Assessing Current Conditions and Challenges at the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center in American Samoa: Oversight Hearing before the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office. Retrieved February 25, 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "American Samoa's only hospital at full capacity". RNZ . November 28, 2018.
  4. ↑ Miles, J.A.R. (1984). Public Health Progress in the Pacific: Geographical Background and Regional Development. Springer Science & Business Media. Page 167. ISBN   9789027790859.
  5. ↑ "New hospital on the cards in American Samoa". RNZ . July 26, 2017.
  6. ↑ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 286. ISBN   9781573062992.
  7. ↑ Current Problems in American Samoa: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-third Congress, Second Session, Hearing Held in Washington, D.C., April 2, 1974. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1974. p.  61.
  8. ↑ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 308. ISBN   9781573062992.
  9. ↑ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 327. ISBN   9781573062992.
  10. ↑ Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1994: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session, Part 1. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1993. p.  418.
  11. ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2024). Science-Christianity and Church Activities in the Samoan Islands: Early 21st Century: An Update. LifeRich Publishing. ISBN 9781489750228.
  12. ↑ "Lack of local nurses and doctors continues to be challenging at LBJ". Samoa News.
  13. ↑ Aitaoto, Fuimaono Fini (2021). Progress and Developments of the Churches in the Samoan Islands: Early 21St Century. LifeRich Publishing. Page 330. ISBN 9781489735867.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.