Computerized tomography (CT) scans will still be conducted by the LBJ Medical Center's Imaging/X-Ray Division after hours, despite a misunderstanding about a general email sent out last week by department manager Vaanatiu Toafala Iafeta, stating that no more CT scans will be done after 4:30 p.m. and on the weekends.

Over a telephone interview with Samoa News yesterday, Vaanatiu explained that the memo was sent out after his employees became affected by the reduction in work hours that has been implemented by the Lolo administration.

(The reduction cuts the normal 80-hour bi-weekly pay period to 70 hours, and does not include federal grant funded employees, contract workers, certain medical personnel, and instructors/teachers).

According to Vaanatiu, it wasn't a decision he made on his own, as the memo came after consultation with hospital higher ups who approved of his decision.

But the memo has caused a stir amongst local residents — and hospital employees — who have aired out their feelings through phonecalls and emails to Samoa News, as well as through comments posted online.

Vaanatiu told Samoa News that the memo was taken out of context, as it only served to notify doctors and professional hospital staff that the Imaging/X-Ray Division will no longer have a person manning the office during a 24-hour period but instead, because of the reduction in hours — any requests for CT scans that come in after normal working hours and on the weekends will be handled by him personally.

"I am not affected by the reduction in hours so I have agreed to take the 'on-call' role and come in after hours and on the weekends if there are any requests for service," he explained, adding that he didn't think his staff would be affected by the reduction in hours.

He said he can't 'force' his staff members to come in after hours and during the weekends to perform a service that they will not be paid to perform.

Vaanatiu said the Imaging/X-Ray Division at LBJ is still open 24 hours, but any after-hour request for service will be delayed, as he has to be notified first, before driving to the LBJ to perform the work himself.

When asked to comment about the numerous complaints lodged against him, Vaanatiu said he is not the one to complain to, or about, as there are higher ups who make decisions that he has no say in.

"It was never my intention to shut down the service completely," he explained, adding that there is no other option as long as the reduction in hours is in effect for his staff.