Please support this petition for the MHS Board of Directors to investigate this breach of public trust by the Maui EMA.
Please add your full name and title (if any) to the comments and I will add it to the names once I submit to the MHS Board of Directors. Please fwd and circulate to the whole Maui community to sign. Thank you.
MHS Board of Directors
221 Mahalani St. Wailuku, HI 96793
Subject: Petition for an Investigation into Alleged Breach of Public Trust by Maui Emergent Medical Associates (EMA) - Misappropriation of Funds from the GoFundMe Campaign
Dear Members of the MHS Hospital Board,
We, the undersigned individuals and concerned citizens, submit this petition to urgently request an immediate and thorough investigation into the activities and conduct of EMA, specifically related to their management of the Emergency Department at Maui Memorial Medical Center (hereinafter referred to as MMMC). Recent events have raised substantial concerns regarding potential breaches of public trust by this company, and we believe that it is imperative to address these allegations promptly to uphold the integrity of this healthcare organization in our community.
The breach of public trust by EMA extends to its Emergency Department contract management group, which operates within MMMC. We were deeply saddened by the loss of many respected clinicians in our community and high turnover of physicians and providers when EMA tookover the emergency department. However, recent developments have added insult to injury, casting a shadow of doubt over the actions of EMA given the recent tragic fires in our beloved island of Maui.
On August 11th, EMA launched a GoFundMe page dedicated to "supporting those who have been affected by the devastating fires that have swept through the island" (https://gofund.me/3dd266f2 While this gesture initially appeared to be a commendable act of support for our community, it has come to our attention that there are serious discrepancies in their handling ofthe funds raised.
According to a letter from their regional director, Dr. Lee Weiss, it was disclosed that $20,000 had been allocated to assist victims of the fires. However, an alarming revelation was made in the same letter, stating that an additional $24,000 would be used to cover their payroll expenses due to a decline in revenue caused by the absence of tourists and decreased economic activity in the Emergency Department. In essence, they intend to retract $24,000 from the funds initially designated for charitable purposes, diverting it to cover their operational expenses. (Please see Dr. Lee Weiss’ letter to the Emergency Department Staff that is attached.)
Furthermore, it has come to our attention that the payroll pool maintained by EMA is shrouded in opacity. Providers are left in the dark about the allocation of funds, and there is a lack of transparency regarding what goes in and what comes out of this pool. When objections were raised concerning the use of GoFundMe donations for payroll, administrative authorities reportedly suggested that providers could voluntarily donate money from their own paychecks if they desired.
The intentions of EMA to fold the funds raised through their GoFundMe page into their payroll were not clearly communicated to the public, leading us to believe, in our collective opinion, that this constitutes a serious breach of public trust.
We, the undersigned, firmly believe that a thorough investigation into this matter is necessary to address these concerns:
1. Conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the alleged misappropriation of GoFundMe donations by EMA and ensure transparency throughout the process.
2. If wrongdoing is confirmed, take appropriate actions, including potential contract termination and legal measures, to rectify the situation and prevent such misconduct in the future.
3. Review and enhance oversight mechanisms to ensure that charitable contributions made in the name of our hospital community are used for their intended purposes.
4. Investigate whether EMA's actions violate Hawaii's Deceptive Trade Practice or Act statute HRS 480-2 et. seq., and consider reporting the matter to the State Attorney General.
We kindly request a timely response and an update on the actions taken regarding this matter. We are deeply committed to ensuring the highest standards of ethics and transparency in our community's healthcare services and believe that your attention to these concerns is vital to achieving this goal.
Sincerely,
Dr Stephanie Yan, General, Trauma, and Critical Care Surgeon
Here is the petition that is readily shareable and open for signatures. We kindly urge you to disseminate it within our community. It is of utmost importance that we maintain a vigilant stance and address any instances of misleading and deceptive fundraising practices that pose a threat to the steady stream of support from our generous donors. Our cherished Maui community, with a particular emphasis on Lahaina, relies heavily on this sustained support for its long-term well-being. Failure to safeguard the trust of donors places at risk the crucial process of rebuilding and healing that our Maui Community so urgently requires.