Donations Welcome to Cover Expenses of OHSU Team

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The Pediatric Clinic welcomes assistance from the business community and residents to help cover the costs for a medical mission from the Oregon Health and Science University Pediatric Cardiology Department.

An 8 member team from OHSU is arriving tomorrow night to conduct a five day clinic at LBJ Hospital . The team will perform echocardiograms for the children of the territory,

Dr. Matagiese Tunoa of the LBJ Pediatric Clinic said heart murmurs, a swishing or whooshing sound during the heartbeat cycle, is made by turbulent blood in or near the heart.

It is a common finding among children in American Samoa during office visits, which causes a lot of anxiety among parents.

Dr. Tunoa says parents are always advised to take their child off-island to consult a heart specialist and to get an echocardiogram done, as these services are not available at LBJ.

Costs related to travel, lodging, and medical care are expensive and overwhelming obstacles for many parents to overcome.

The OHSU team visit allows them to ascertain the underlying cause of new heart murmurs and to continue providing medical treatment and other recommendations for those with established heart problems.

The visit also provides reassurance to families of children with milder forms of heart disease so they do not expend resources in seeking off island care, if it was not necessary.

Dr. Tunoa says the team from Oregon are volunteering their services.

The Pediatric Clinic of LBJ is soliciting financial assistance from the business community, community organizations and individuals to help cover the costs of the OHSU team.

If you want to help, call Dr. Tunoa at 633-1222 ext 520.

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