ASMCA – American Samoa Medical Center

Beginning Monday, October 26^th,  parents will be asked to please “Call Ahead” before bringing children to the pediatric clinic to be seen.

633-2179 has been designated as the “Call Ahead” or ‘appointment’ line for the Pediatric Clinic.

By requesting parents to call ahead for an appointment time, we are hoping to lessen the over-crowding of the waiting area, and to eliminate the long waiting times.

Physicians must provide care for the hospitalized patients first; on the ward, in ICU, and in the Nursery, before coming to the clinic.   Therefore, the Clinic hours on Monday and Friday will begin at 10:00 AM.  On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Clinic appointments will begin at 9:00 AM.

It will be best to arrive at the Pediatric Clinic shortly before the time of your child’s appointment.

Thank you!!

Physicians and Nurses of the Pediatric Clinic of LBJ Tropical Medical Center

Dear Ms. Payes & Staff

The Management and staff wish to express our sincere gratitude for the generous contribution you have made to help relieve the pain and suffering of the people of American Samoa and the Medical Center, as we cope with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami of September 29, 2009. The funds received will be utilized in the manner consistent with your intent. If you have any specific questions regarding the use of our funds, please contact us and we will provide additional details to meet your needs.

We have taken the liberty to include your name as a generous contributor of funds on our web site to help express our gratitude. You may visit our web site at www.lbj.as to view this and other information regarding our situation and recovery.

Again, thank you for your generous support at this special time of need for us.

Sincerely,

LBJ – Tropical Medical Center
Administration and Staff

LBJ Public Information

Sanitation and Hygiene After a Tsunami

Flood waters may contain fecal materials from overflowing sewage, and agricultural and industrial byproducts.  Skin contact by itself will not pose any problems, but there is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with flood water.  If you have any open cuts or sores exposed to flood waters, keep them clean by washing well with soap to control infection.  If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.

Furthermore, parents need to help children avoid waterborne illness.  Do not allow children to play in flood water areas, wash children’s hands frequently (always before meals) and do not allow children to play with flood-water contaminated toys that have not been disinfected.  You can disinfect toys using a solution of 1 cup bleach in 5 gallons of water.  Some toys like stuffed animals and baby toys, cannot be disinfected; they should be discarded.

E iai le avanoa e afaina ai le soifua maloloina mai suavai i galulolo ona o otaota  o meaola ua fa’aleagaina ai le vai.  O le afaina pea inu, tausami ma fa’aaoga mea na susu i le suavai mai le galulolo.  A fa’apea o iai ni manu’a na susu mai vai o le galulolo, e mana’omia ia fufulu mama ia foia ai le inifeti.  Mo ni manu’a ua mumu, fufula, pe ua sua fo’i e mana’omia e tala aao mai e va’ai se foma’i.

E fautuaina matua ia fesoasoani ia aua ne’i aafia le fanau i ni gasegase ona o le galulolo.

Taofi tamaiti ma le ta’aalo i vaivai na maua i le galulolo.  Ia fufulu mama lima o tamaiti, ae maise lava ae le’i fafagaina.  O mea ta’alo a tamaiti na susu I le galulolo e mafai ona sokaina I se paelo o iai le (1 ipu chlorox I le lima kalone vai) ae le’I toe fa’aaogaina.

Food Safety After Tsunami

Thawed food can usually be eaten, or refrozen if it still contains ice crystals.  Discard any food that has been at room temperature for 2 or more hours, or any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

Do not eat any food that has not been sealed in waterproof containers (commercially canned or sealed plastic containers) and that may have come in contact with seawater, floodwater, river water or pond water.  Throw away any food not in nonsealed, nonwaterproof containers that has come in contact with flood waters.

Undamaged commercially canned foods can be saved.  Remove the can labels, wash the outside of the cans with soapy water, and thoroughly disinfect cans using 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water.  Use a marker to label cans.

If opened food containers have screw caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles) twist caps or flip tops, or if they have been home canned, throw them away if they have come in contact with flood water.

E mafai ona fa’aaogaina mea ‘ai tu’u aisa  pe afai o malulu pea, e mafai fo’i na toe tu’u ile aisa mea ‘ai pea le’i te’a ese le aisa.  E fautuaina le mamalu o le atunu’u ia aua le fa’aaogaina mea ‘ai ua atoa le 2 itula (pe sili atu fo’i) o mafanafana pea i fafo o le pusa aisa, fa’apea mea ‘ai ua ese le manogi, pe ua sui le lanu.  Aua le toe fa’aaogaina mea ‘ai e le’i tu’uina i se ipu e iai sona tapuni, pe na iai se avanoa na susu ai i le vai o le galulolo.  O mea ‘ai tu’u apa na susu i le galulolo, e mana’omia ia fufu le apa, ave’ese le pepa, fufui ise paelo o iai  le (1 ipu Chlorox i kalone vai e lima) toe tusi le igoa o le apa i se (marker).   O fagu ma ipu o iai tapuni ae na susu i le vai o le galulolo, e fautuaina e aua le toe fa’aaogaina.

THE HOTLINE NUMBERS ARE:

684-633-0921 OR 684-633-0922

Red Cross volunteers and LBJ staff members have been manning the phones for the Patient Information Hotline.  If you have any inquiries regarding loved ones who may be in the hospital or may have been a victim of the tsunami, please call the information hotline.  Information will have to be specific to the person or persons you may be looking for.  Lists of people will not be given over the phone, but you may ask by individual names and our volunteers will check to see if they are indeed an inpatient or is one of the deceased victims of the tsunami.

High Talking Chief Uso Lago’o
Pulenu’u, Faga’alu Village
Faga’alu, American Samoa 96799

Dear HTC Uso Lago’o, and all the residents of Faga’alu Village,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to you and the residents of Faga’alu for your gracious accommodation of the LBJ staff and their patients during the evacuation on Tuesday morning, following the earthquake. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated. Most people do not know the involvement your village had in the successful evacuation and return of patients.

The decision to evacuate the LBJ patients was reached shortly after the tsunami warning, and immediately the staff of LBJ started mobilizing patients to higher ground. The evacuation sites indicated in our evacuation plan are in the village of Faga’alu, your village. Seventy five patients, both from the patient wards and from the Emergency Room were escorted by staff (and family members) up the mountain to safety. Your village residents assisted the LBJ staff, opened their homes, even provided drinks and food to the patients (and their families) and the LBJ staff. Word had it that your aiga did a barbeque, especially to feed the patient’s and staff. There is no place in the world where over 75 patients, and over 50 staff members moving to higher ground during your morning coffee would be so graciously welcomed, and invited to stay for lunch! For your time, assistance, generosity, open homes, and open hearts, we (and our patients) are very grateful.

The evacuation of the LBJ patients was a textbook disaster mitigation that, with the assistance and generosity of the village of Faga’alu went smoothly. There were no incidents reported during the long hours that the patients and staff were away from the hospital. The LBJ Tropical Medical Center patients and staff were welcomed and accommodated quickly and with compassion by the village of Faga’alu. Everybody returned to the hospital without harm.

LBJ management and staff, while currently working for the recovery mode of the disaster, have not forgotten the kindness, and generosity of your family, and all the residents of Faga’alu Village in assisting, accommodating, and providing for the patients and staff.

Thank you so much, once again, for your spirit of alofa, and your kindness and compassion during the time of need. LBJ is proud to be hosted by the village of Faga’alu, and deeply appreciate your welcome, and assistance, both during this event, and everyday.

Fa’afetai lava!
Patricia Tindall,
Chief Executive Officer,
LBJ Tropical Medical

Patricia Tindall, CEO of LBJ, has requested all department heads, to identify those employees who have been victims of the recent tsunami. As of today, approximately 70 employees of our LBJ family have been identified as having experienced the physical effects of this disaster. For 13 staff members, there is no longer a home, or clothing, food or shelter: others have suffered lesser degrees of damage and loss. The number of employees who have lost loved ones remains unknown, but it is certain, that each and every one of us has been changed forever by the events of recent days.

Our hearts and prayers are with one another – it is not uncommon to see the tears in another’s eyes as you approach them. Some are telling me that it is a bit ‘therapeutic’ to be at work and to focus on tending to others. Others say that coming to work is just one bit of ‘normal’ in a life that has been totally disrupted.

Those of us who do have homes and clothing left, would like to share what we have with our co-workers, so Mrs. Tindall has established a donations center through LBJ Human Resources (Ana Hargett) and our LBJ Social Services Department. 684-633-5228 ana.hargett@lbj.as

For Donations: LBJ Tropical Medial Center
Attn: Human Resources
P.O. Box LBJ
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

LBJ Tropical Medical Center remains undamaged following 8.0 earthquake, a  tsunami, and two aftershocks!

A view at Fagatogo during the Tsunami

Hospital services returned to normal on Friday, October 2^nd, the third day following disasters that devastated coastal areas of our beautiful island.

The earth began shaking shortly before 7:00 AM Tuesday morning. Since the day shift at LBJTMC normally begins at 7:30, many of our employees were still enroute to the Hospital.  On duty, was our night shift staff in the ER and the hospital, some early morning clinic staff, our hemodialysis patients and staff, and the members of our dietary and laundry services whose shifts begin early.   As soon as the earthquake ended, our disaster plan was put into motion.  Under the direction of the Emergency Room Physician and the Nursing Patient Care Coordinator, patients were prepared for evacuation from the hospital area which is only about 200 yards from the ocean.

Immediately our staff began directing patients out of the buildings and toward the village road behind the hospital that leads up the mountain.  Every staff member found a patient to assist out of bed if possible and begin moving toward the road.  Within minutes,  patients in labor, patients in wheelchairs and even 3 patients in their hospital beds, were being moved out and up the village road, in a calm and organized manner. As they looked up, they saw the Faga’alu village residents hurrying down the road “with open arms” to assist them.

According to our Radiologist, within 45 minutes of the earthquake, the entire campus had been evacuated without incident.  A temporary ICU tent was set up in a carport up the village road, where a patient on a ventilator was doing well.  The Pharmacist on duty was there, along with a prepared tray of medications, and nurses had brought along dressings and other supplies that may be needed before it would be safe to return.   Homes of local residents were opened to assist with our patients – This is the heart of American Samoa!!

Is was not until 11:00 AM  that the announcement was made that it was safe to return.  All patients were returned to the Hospital without incident.  In spite of rumors of another approaching tsunami latter on that evening, the hospital finally settled down for the night.

Hawaiian Air flight providing supplies

The response from FEMA and from the Armed Services of the United States has been tremendous.  As of today – Saturday, October 03, 2009, over 245 federal responders are on Island.   Our Emergency Room this morning has welcomed both Physicians and Nurses from the U.S. who are on duty today bringing support and relief to our fatigued staff.

“Thank YOU!” the emails and calls have been numerous!!

For those wishing to forward donations to LBJ an account has been established to receive them:

Please mail your donations to the following mail address:

LBJ Tropical Medical Center

Attn: Mr. Ricky Nader, CFO

P.O. Box LBJ

Pago Pago, American Samoa  96799

Professionals willing to offer their assistance:

Please contact our Human Resources Department—

Ms. Ana Hargett     (684) 633-4052   ana.hargett@lbj.as

HOTLINE for patient information:

684-633-0921 OR 684-633-0922

Email contacts:   pat.kalasa@lbj.as and   gwen.bedwell@lbj.as

Posted by: Pat Kalasa, Privacy/Compliance Officer

McNeil Consumer Healthcare and FDA notified consumers of a nationwide recall of certain Tylenol products as a precautionary measure because of potential manufacturing problems. The company initiated a recall of certain oral suspension products distributed between March 2008 and May 2008 due to the potential of bacteria in raw materials used to manufacture the finished product. There are no illnesses reported by patients using this product. The full list of recalled product lots can be accessed on the company’s website at

click here for Tylenol letter and List of product lots:

McNeil is advising parents and caregivers who have administered affected product to their child or infant and have concerns to contact their healthcare providers. Parents and caregivers can find the lot numbers on the bottom of the box containing the product and also on the sticker that surrounds the product bottle.

Read the complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary including a link to the FDA news release, at:

click here for news release:

NOTE: from LBJ Pharmacy

Estimated Resupply Dates – companies could not estimate release date

Due to several manufacturer discontinuing the Oxycodone products,  procurement of these products are limited from our drug distributors.  Please limit your prescriptions for acute pain to no more than #20 and to the chronic pain patients to no more than #50 tablets.  Please ration our supplies to extend care until drug shortage is resolved.

Reason for the Shortage

• Watson states the shortage is due to supply and demand.
• Mallinckrodt states the shortage is due to a raw material shortage in 2008. The company is now producing product and expects supply to return to normal – estimated release date unknown.
• Qualitest could not provide a reason for the shortage. They discontinued 5/500 capsules in 100 count (NDC 00254-4832-28) bottles in April, 2009.
• Athlon Pharmaceuticals discontinued their Perloxx products in June, 2008.
• Actavis discontinued all oxycodone/acetaminophen products in April, 2009.

Please inform your patients that LBJ pharmacy does NOT stock Albuterol and Ipratropium products manufactured by Dey L.P.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers not to use certain respiratory medications purchased after Sept. 8, 2009 and manufactured by Dey L.P., a subsidiary of Mylan Inc., because the medications might have been part of a shipment being transported on a tractor-trailer stolen in Tampa, Fla., on Sept. 8, 2009.

The respiratory medications, Ipratropium Bromide Inhalation Solution, 0.02%, and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 0.083%, unit-dose vials, have not been recovered and may be dangerous to use because the drugs may not have been stored and handled properly.

Dey issued an advisory on Sept. 11, 2009 regarding the theft. Although the FDA is not aware of any reports of adverse events, the agency is advising patients who use these respiratory medications to check to see if products received or purchased after Sept. 8, 2009.