Dialysis Facility Administrator Amata Taifane was not hired into her current position directly from Hawai’i during a recruitment trip by the hospital board, but got the job as a result of corrective actions taken due to a citation from the Centers for Medicaid services (CMS). Mrs. Taifane revealed this information during an interview over the phone with Samoa News on Monday, this week.

Taifane was responding to a story in Samoa News, last week in which hospital CEO Taufete’e John Faumuina said, during an interview with this reporter, it was an unfair move by the former CEO to hire an Administrator for the dialysis unit making $72,000, when there is a nurse who has been managing the Dialysis Clinic for more than 20 years.

Taufete’e told Samoa News that hiring an Administrator for the dialysis unit was an issue that had been brought to his attention. According to the CEO, the hospital board hired the Administrator when they were on one of their “recruitment trips” in Hawai’i. He also said that the position was never advertised.

However, Taifane told Samoa News the fact is, “I was not hired into the administrator position directly from Hawai’i during a recruitment trip by the Board, or by the former CEO (Joseph Davis Fleming).”

Explaining her current position, Taifane said she had applied for Ancillary and Clinical Support Services (ACSS) director, however the board hired her instead as the deputy director for that division, while the former deputy director was hired as the new ACSS director, in May 2014.

According to Taifane, “I have been here for almost ten months, and I did not acquire this new position (Facility Administrator for the dialysis unit) until five months into my arrival at LBJ.” She noted that her appointment to the Facility Administrator position was the result of corrective actions taken due to a citation from the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is the governing body that surveys and certifies healthcare facilities to receive federal funding through Medicaid and Medicare.

She said, “the recommendation was made by CMS and Network 17 for the position to help ease the workload of the nurse currently in charge, who was overwhelmed with all these administrative duties, as she is a clinician and not an administrator.”

Taifane further pointed out that a Facility Administrator, according to CMS standards 494.180, is one who exercises responsibility for the management of the facility and the provision of all dialysis services.

The letter in which Taifane was appointed by then Acting CEO, Pauline Gebauer as Facility Administrator was leaked to Samoa News. The letter dated October 20, 2014 says that the hospital board “in compliance with CMS conditions of participation 494.180(a) has appointed you to serve as the ESRD Facility Administrator responsible for the management of the facility and the provision of all dialysis services.”

The letter further stated that the governing board of the hospital “will direct your day to day priorities” and she is to report directly to the CEO in the daily administration of the dialysis unit. She was also urged to familiarize herself with the duties and responsibilities in the performance of her duties.

Samoa News also viewed firsthand Taifane’s 303-employment record indicating that it was signed by the current hospital CEO Taufete’e. Calls to Taufete’e for comment were not immediately answered.

Taifane also shared her qualifications with Samoa News, saying “I believe the board would have not appointed me to the position if they did not feel I was qualified for the job. I do have a Masters degree in Healthcare Administration and am a PhD candidate for Healthcare Management, which I don't believe anyone in LBJ currently has.

“I also served in the federal government for 20 years prior to moving home to American Samoa and have 17 years of experience of working in a hospital.” According to Taifane, of the 17 years she has served in management positions; eight years were as the Group Practice Manager of the Tripler Pediatrics clinic that included subspecialty clinics, which housed 50+ physicians as well as nursing and support staff.

“During my tenure as the Group Practice Manager, I played a major role in the Tripler Pediatrics achieving the highest recognition, and being certified as a Patient Centered Medical Home. As you can see, I do know something about health care and would appreciate some credit for my experience and knowledge.”

She further told Samoa News that she came home to contribute to providing the people of American Samoa with much needed quality healthcare.

Taifane stated: “My intention is not to belittle anyone, but to help enhance our healthcare and give our people the quality health care that they deserve.”

BACKGROUND

Hiring of a Dialysis Facility Administrator at LBJ occurred due to a surprise CMS survey that happened last year, in June, of the LBJ Medical Center’s Dialysis Clinic and a full Medicare certification survey of the hospital. Over ten violations of federal regulations at LBJ Medical Center were found during the surprise visit, which CMS is now requiring LBJ to correct, or face the loss of its CMS re-certification.

In the dialysis unit survey, CMS said that the add-on unit, which was opened for dialysis treatment of patients, did not have a fire suppression system; it was overcrowded due to lack of space, and there was no evacuation route in case of emergency.

Other issues noted by the CMS, included the lack of a program to ensure dialysis machine maintenance, the facility did not ensure that the patient had the right to respect and dignity, and did not ensure that patients had the right to privacy and confidentiality in all aspects of treatment, causing overall lack of “statutorily mandated services under patients rights.”