Patients needing Cat Scans at LBJ Hospital have to wait several days because the head of the Imaging Department, Vaanatiu Toafala Iafeta, has apparently stopped all after hours and weekend scans until the LBJ management halts the ten hour reduction for he and his staff.
Vaanatiu sent out an email June 12 stating that no more computerized tomography (CT) scans will be completed after 4:30pm, nor the weekends.
He said this will be in place until his staff can be paid their full 80 hours per pay period as well as call in overtime.
His directive also includes emergency CT scans.
Vaanatiu is reported to have told three licensed techs that they are not to respond to Emergency Room doctors orders after 4:30pm week days, and not at all on the weekends.
This at a time when the hospital has been quite busy in the evenings and weekends.
KHJ News understands that doctors are upset that cat scans they are asking for are not being done because of Vaanatiu’s directive to his staff.
Staff also don’t appreciate being blamed by patients when their cat scans are not done right away.
One staff member said this has become a patient health ethical issue.
Three days ago KHJ News sent questions to the CEO of LBJ Hospital seeking reaction but as of news time there was no response.
