A medical couple who has been on the staff of the LBJ hospital for nearly three decades are leaving..the husband is being forced out in that his contract is not being renewed and the wife, who heads a federally funded program and is US certified, has resigned over the way her husband has been treated.
Taulapapa Dr. Alo Anesi has been with LBJ Hospital since 1981 and has held several leadership positions including from the time when LBJ was under the Department of Health, during which he was Deputy Director of Health.
At the LBJ where he’s the longest serving doctor on the staff, he has been Chief of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer. He’s now assigned to the Medical Clinic.
Taulapapa said he was delivered a four sentence letter last Friday letter informing him that his contract was not being renewed and that he had two weeks to process his exit.
The letter which was dated February 3 did not state the reason given for non renewal of his contract.
The doctor said he learned from a Samoa News story yesterday that the reason was because of extended absence from his job.
Taulapapa said after he collapsed from exhaustion on the job last summer when the Medical Clinic was severely short staffed, he sought medical treatment in New Zealand.
He admits he was away for several months due to his treatment regiment.
Taulapapa, a graduate of Otago University Medical School in New Zealand has a Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services pin number for certification of patient billing.
He says it’s the LBJ’s prerogative not to renew his contract but after putting in nearly 30 years at the local hospital he is disappointed that he was not allowed the courtesy of a face to face meeting with his friends in the LBJ management.
Taulapapa says he was just handed the letter telling him his contract was not being renewed but feels the appropriate thing to do was to meet with the decision makers.
He is hurt and feels let down by the hospital he has devoted half of his life to but has accepted the decision without any ill feelings.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga confirmed that the reason for non renewal of Taulapapa’s contract was extended absences but he said there are other reasons which he preferred not to go into.
Told of the doctor’s opinion for a face to face meeting, Saleapaga said, “he should come in to talk to us if he wants an explanation.”
When asked if the departure of another doctor will create an even more critical situation in the Medical Clinic and Ward, the CMO said, “we have enough staff.”
Taulapapa’s wife, Marilyn, who is Program Director of Family Planning, which is federally funded, submitted her resignation yesterday.
She says she cannot continue to work in an environment where professional personnel are ill treated and not afforded the courtesies that any medical institution would offer.
She said after her husband was let go just like that after putting in so many years at LBJ, and even collapsed on the job because he was working 12 hours shifts, she anticipates this may happen to her too.
She says we have enjoyed serving the people and working with staff but there’s a reason for everything and this may be an opening for other directions in our lives.
