In a letter to Taufete’e Faumuina, Congressman Faleomavaega has sent to
the Chief Executive Officer of American Samoa’s Medical Center a list of
federal sources of funding which the medical center could use to improve
the quality of medical care. The programs range from paying tuition
of medical students to funds available to LBJ for cross-training hospital
staff and purchasing telemedicine equipment.
“With ASG’s current financial problems, it is becoming more and more difficult
to improve the medical care we receive in American Samoa. In response
to recent discussions I had with Dr. Snyder, a volunteer doctor at LBJ,
I directed my staff to look for every source of federal funding which could
be used, directly or indirectly, to assist our local hospital,” said Faleomavaega.
“Today, I am pleased to provide the hospital with that list in the hopes
that the hospital administration will be able to identify new sources of
funding to meet its medical obligations to the residents of our territory.”
The Congress has long recognized the financial difficulties in providing
quality medical care in rural areas, such as American Samoa, and has established
several programs to assist hospitals in these areas. One program
would pay hospitals the costs of having residents work there. Another
program provides funds to cross-train existing staff, and yet another provides
scholarships to students in medical school, or studying to be family nurse
practitioners, or primary care physician assistants. There is even
a program for persons from low income households to pay back their educational
loans while working at the National Institutes of Health.
“The Administration and staff of our medical center are working hard to
provide quality medical care for us. If we can provide them with
the tools, training and funding they need to do this, we will all benefit,”
concluded Faleomavaega.
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