25th Annual North Hawaii Senior Health Fair

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Damon

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital (NHCH) celebrates its 25th Annual North Hawai‘i Senior Health Fair on Sunday, May 19th, 2013 and invites North Hawaii seniors 55 years and older to attend.

Health Fair

“This health fair is often the only time seniors in our community have the opportunity to receive health screenings by physicians, registered nurses and other medical professionals,” says Lowell Johnson, NHCH Interim CEO. “This event provides complimentary health screenings and wellness education to nearly 300 seniors 55+ in North Hawai‘i,” says Johnson.

This event is one of two annual events hosted by North Hawaii Community Hospital to help fulfill its mission “to improve the health status of the people of North Hawaii by improving access to care and providing high quality services at a reasonable cost. The other event is Girls Night Out, held in October, to promote breast cancer awareness.

Complimentary health screenings offered at this event include: oral screenings, hearing tests, stroke risk assessments, skin checks, eye screenings, holistic care services, blood pressure, blood tests for cholesterol and glucose by Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i and more. Health education will also be available to North Hawai‘i seniors by the following vendors: Tutu’s House, County of Hawai‘i Fire Department, North Hawai‘i Hospice, NHCH’s Kohala Home Health Care, NHCH’s Rehabilitation Services, NHCH’s Waimea Women’s Center, Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i, Ho’onani Place and more.

NHCH’s 25th Annual Senior Health Fair, formerly held in November, has moved to Sunday, May 19th, 2013 to support National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This event is held at North Hawaii Community Hospital, and registration is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch, bingo and prizes. For more information, please contact Laurie Edmondson by calling 808-881-4425.

 

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Encouraging Residents to Apply for Scholarship Opportunities

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) would like to encourage residents to apply for three scholarship opportunities. The three scholarships include the Peggy Dineen-Orsini Scholarship, the NHCH Medical Staff Scholarship and the Hawai‘i Emergency Physicians Associated, Inc. (HEPA) Scholarship.

North Hawaii Community Hospital

The Peggy Dineen-Orsini Scholarship offers one $2,000 award to a resident of Hawaii County who is enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in a National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited program in Hawai‘i or on the mainland. Private donors along with the Medical Staff at NHCH fund this scholarship in memory of Peggy Dineen-Orsini, who was a Registered Nurse at North Hawaii Community Hospital for eight years (1996 to 2004). Peggy had a caring and appreciative essence for all life offered. Her compassion for her patients, colleagues and friends made her a joy to know and be around. The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage residents to become productive members of our community through higher education.

The second scholarship is funded solely by the NHCH Medical Staff and offers two $1,000 scholarships to individuals who are enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in a National League of Nursing accredited program in Hawai‘i or on the mainland.

The third and final scholarship is funded by Hawai’i Emergency Physicians Associated, Inc. (HEPA), the independent, physician-owned group of board-certified physicians who provide staffing in NHCH’s Emergency Department. HEPA is offering two $1,000 college scholarships to graduating North Hawai‘i high school students. For this scholarship, students are asked to write a personal letter describing their future plans and goals and to explain why their financial need is compelling.

All applications will be reviewed by the scholarship committee of each sponsoring organization based on the criteria and requirements outlined in the scholarship application, which can be found online at http://www.NHCH.com. An important consideration in the selection process is financial need. Completed applications and all required documents must be received on or postmarked by the final filing date of Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Please mail completed applications and required documents to North Hawaii Community Hospital, Attention: Human Resources, 67-1125 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI 96743. For more information, contact Human Resources at North Hawaii Community Hospital at (808) 881-4410.

 

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Encourages Community Input on Health Needs Assessment

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Damon

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital (NHCH) is collaborating with Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) and numerous hospitals and healthcare entities throughout the state to conduct a community health needs assessment. Community members are asked to participate in this assessment by sharing their health-related issues and concerns to help the Hawaii health care industry and NHCH better meet community needs.

North Hawaii Community Hospital

“We encourage North Hawaii residents to participate in this assessment, so NHCH can gain a greater understanding of the health concerns within our community,” says William Brown, NHCH CEO. “Your feedback will enable us to better coordinate limited resources to address top level health concerns and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community,” says Brown. “Your input is vitally needed.”

The confidential assessment poses ten questions related to health care concerns in your community and can be accessed online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HawaiiCommunitySurvey2012 or http://www.HAH.org. The assessment takes less than 5 minutes to complete and must be done by Friday, December 21st, 2012.

In addition to satisfying governmental regulations, the information collected will also be used for strategic planning purposes related to the delivery of health care throughout the state of Hawaii.

HAH is a non-profit organization representing health care providers in Hawaii and is committed to advocating on behalf of the Hawaii health-care industries to ensure the delivery of quality and affordable health care to the people of Hawaii.

HAH, in coordination with Healthy Communities Institute (HCI), is conducting this community health needs assessment to gain input from community health workers, public health professionals and community members as part of a larger statewide community health needs assessment.

To complete the confidential, ten question Hawaii community health needs assessment, please visit www.HAH.org or http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HawaiiCommunitySurvey2012 by Friday, December 21st, 2012. Survey results will be available in March 2013.

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Hawai’i Island Beacon Community Expands Alere Wellogic Health Information Exchange in Partnership with North Hawai’i Community Hospital

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Damon

The Hawai’i Island Beacon Community (HIBC) has begun to expand the region’s first health information exchange (HIE), following a successful pilot phase which began last December at North Hawai’i Community Hospital. The HIE facilitates safer, more efficient, and cost-effective care within the connected health care community across Hawai’i Island. It enables doctors to easily view and share patient records from participating hospitals, doctors’ offices, imaging centers, pharmacies, laboratories and other practices. It also facilitates secure doctor-to-doctor messaging for referrals and consultations, and establishes the foundation for care coordination across the region. This HIE can also connect to other regional HIEs and eventually the Nationwide Health Information Network.

“The Hawai’i Island Beacon project is all about building a better system of health care delivery by providing better care and managing cost. Alere Wellogic’s HIE is helping us reach this ambitious goal by improving the communication and coordination of clinical care and support services,” said Susan Hunt, HIBC Project Director and CEO. “It has been a tremendous demonstration of what collaboration, technology, and community partnerships can achieve. We have accomplished a great deal in a relatively short period of time and are looking forward to next steps.”

The HIE was designed in collaboration with the physicians and technology leadership at North Hawai’i Community Hospital, HIBC, Alere Wellogic, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Key Facts

  • First live HIE on Hawai’i Island now connects doctors in North Hawai’i.
  • Charter participants are NHCH, affiliated physicians, and their reference laboratories and imaging centers.
  • Authorized doctors and their staff have easy and immediate access to patient information across all connected venues of care, from emergency rooms to specialist offices.
  • The shared information is harmonized for easy review and to enable decision support.
  • Doctors and staff already observe positive impact on information availability, operational efficiency, and patient care.
  • This project lays the foundation for Alere’s electronic health record, wireless diagnostic devices, decision support, analytics, care coordination and population health reporting functions.

Participating organizations include: Cleveland Clinic radiologists at North Hawai’i Community Hospital, Clinical Laboratories of Hawai’i, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Hawai’i Emergency Physicians Associated, Hamakua Health Center, North Hawai’i Community Hospital, North Hawai’i Hospitalist Physicians and North Hawai’i Medical Group.

“I have always been impressed by the usability of the HIE from Alere Wellogic,” said Dr. William Park, senior general surgeon at North Hawai’i Community Hospital. “We ultimately chose Alere Wellogic because they are unique in understanding what we doctors need — tools that help us be more efficient, but in a way that doesn’t require fundamental change in how we run our day.”

Care providers can more easily and securely communicate, collaborate, and coordinate patient care. For example, emergency room doctors can now view patient histories kept by primary care physicians, preventing adverse events in situations when seconds can make a difference. In turn, primary care doctors can receive and view information regarding their patients’ admissions and discharges. Alere Wellogic’s unique HIE visual presentation also compiles that information into a single sophisticated screen that enables care providers to see the information and trends on their computer or iPad quickly and easily.

“We can now, with the simple click of the mouse or touch on an iPad, see a patient’s entire medical history from all participants without having to laboriously chase it down or piece it together,” continued Dr. Park. “This demonstrates what I believed was possible: that technology can and must be elegant in how it presents patient information. This solution represents a fundamental step forward in how we deliver and coordinate care.”

“It is no secret that adoption of technology has been a longstanding challenge for our industry,” said Sumit Nagpal, President and CEO of Alere Wellogic. “Limited expectations and brute-force solutions have too often been imposed on doctors and their staff. It is not surprising that these solutions have failed to meet doctors’ needs and seen limited use. We knew right from the beginning that we had to inspire daily, routine adoption by doctors and their staff for this investment to be meaningful and sustainable, and we obtained it by launching with a rich set of patient information, compiled and presented in the way doctors work. Our providers can’t imagine going backward, and are excited about what we have in the works to build on this foundation.”

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Announces William Park, MD, Stepping Down as Group’s Chief Medical Officer

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Damon

After serving eighteen months as Chief Medical Officer, William I. Park, MD, announced today he will step down from his leadership position in North Hawaii Medical Group (NHMG), effective July 1, 2012. Dr. Park will continue to serve as senior general surgeon and will remain on the hospital’s Board of Directors.

William Park, MD,

“Bill’s importance to NHCH cannot be overstated,” says Robert Momsen, NHCH Chairman of the Board. “In 2008, Bill chose to remain at NHCH because he believed in our future. Had he not had such confidence in NHCH, much of our current successes would not have been possible.”

“Without his leadership, NHCH’s new medical group would not be a reality,” says Ken Wood, President and CEO of NHCH. “I would like to thank Bill for the tireless hours he has spent bringing the concept of a medical group into fruition at NHCH.” North Hawaii Medical Group, was formed and established in January 2011 as an affiliate organization of NHCH consisting of multi-specialty health care providers. NHMG’s goal is to work closely with community physicians to form an integrated system of care focused on serving the 35,000 people who live in the hospital’s service area. NHMG is comprised of more than 15 health care providers who offer a wide range of specialty care services including: Adult and Family Medicine, Hospitalist Care, Minimally Invasive and General Surgery, Native Hawaiian Health, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, Pulmonology and Women’s Health.

“It has been my privilege to serve as the Chief Medical Officer of the North Hawaii Medical Group,” says William Park. “I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to assist with the establishment of NHCH’s North Hawaii Medical Group and have learned more than I have given in this process. I look forward to resuming my career as a general surgeon and continuing to serve on the hospital’s Board of Directors.”

NHCH is actively recruiting a full time Executive Director to lead their North Hawaii Medical Group. Ken Wood, President and CEO of NHCH, will serve as interim director until an appropriate candidate is found.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Announces New Board of Director

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) announces the addition of Robert K. Lindsey to the hospital’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Lindsey, a retired Kamehameha Schools Administrator, brings years of political, cultural, business and community experience and knowledge to NHCH’s board.

Robert “Bob” Lindsey

Born in Hilo and raised in Kamuela, Hawai‘i, Robert “Bob” Lindsey has lived in Waimea all his life, only leaving to attend high school and college on O‘ahu. Lindsey earned his BA from the University of Hawai‘i – Manoa. He worked with Kamehameha Schools from 1987 until retiring in 2004, serving the last 13 years as Director – Land Assets Division – Hawai‘i. Prior to joining Kamehameha Schools, Lindsey was a social worker, park ranger and served a two-year term as State House Representative – District 6 from 1984 to 1986.

Lindsey also currently resides as board member of 10 non-profit organizations, including The Kohala Center (co-founder and director), Waimea Outdoor Circle, Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club, Kanu O Ka ‘Aina Learning ‘Ohana, Kohala Ditch Foundation, Habitat for Humanity – West Hawai‘i, and President of Laiopua 2020. In addition, Lindsey is Vice Chair on the Board of Trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and sitting member of the Hawai‘i Island Legislative Caucus.

“Our roots as a community hospital reach throughout North Hawai‘i, and Bob brings a rich understanding of the community’s healthcare needs, which will help us to better fulfill the hospital’s mission,” says Ken Wood, President and CEO of NHCH. Robert Momsen, Chairman of NHCH’s Board of Directors adds, “Bob is the kind of leader that our community is blessed to have. His passion for improving education, healthcare, and housing is reflected in everything he does. NHCH is very fortunate to have Bob join our board.”

“I am honored to have been asked to serve on the NHCH Board of Directors and will be an active advocate for the hospital’s mission and vision,” says Lindsey. “I would like to share an ‘Olelo Noeau from Tutu Pukui: ‘O ke kahua mamua, mahope ke kukulu,’ which means ‘the foundation first, the building afterwards.’ This ‘olelo aligns well with NHCH’s Value Statement, which is, “As ‘Ohana, we Value an environment of Aloha, which nurtures trust, respect, self-expression without fear, open minds and hearts, and continuous improvement.”

Other recent changes to NHCH’s Board of Directors include the resignation of Vice Chair Sharon Vitousek, MD, and Carolyn Quick, RN. Quick joined NHCH’s board in 2008 with more than 30 years of nursing and hospital administration experience, including serving as NHCH’s Vice President of Patient Care Services. Quick resigned from NHCH’s Board of Directors as she will be relocating to the mainland this summer.

Sharon Vitousek, MD, is a founding member of NHCH’s Board of Directors and helped to write the hospital’s mission more than 16 years ago. Vitousek most recently re-joined NHCH’s board in 2009 and is the director of North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project, a collaborative community effort to both measure and improve the health and quality of life in North Hawai‘i. Vitousek resigned from NHCH’s board after accepting the board president position of the Hawai‘i Island Beacon Community Board of Directors.

With these recent changes, the Board of Directors for NHCH includes:

  • Bob Momsen, Chairman (Retired Health Care Venture Capitalist)
  • Ginny Pressler, MD, Vice Chair and Treasurer (Chief Strategic Officer, Hawaii Pacific Health)
  • Robert Hastings, II, JD, Secretary (Trusts and Estate Planning Attorney)
  • William “Doug” Hiller, MD (Chief of Staff – NHCH)
  • Dutch Kuyper (President and CEO – Parker Ranch)
  • Dick Levy (Chairman – Varian Medical Systems; Member – Peninsula Coastal Region of Sutter Health Board; Chair – Finance and Planning Committee of Sutter Health Board)
  • Robert K. Lindsey (Retired Kamehameha Schools Administrator)
  • Kahu Billy Mitchell (Kahu and Community Leader)
  • Bill Park, MD (Chief Medical Officer – NHCH)
  • Ken Wood (President and CEO – NHCH)

NHCH Background: North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) is a rural 33-bed acute care hospital located in Kamuela, on Hawai‘i Island. Non-profit, and locally governed, the hospital opened in May 1996 and cares for Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors. NHCH offers an extensive set of hospital services that are centered on patient needs, creating a healing experience for the whole person – mind, body and spirit.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Announces Kaloa Robinson as New Director of Community Outreach

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Damon

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital (NHCH) is pleased to announce that Kaloa Robinson has joined the NHCH ‘ohana as the hospital’s Director of Community Outreach. He will lead the organization’s outreach and community partnership efforts, as well as oversee communications programs.

Kaloa Robinson

“We are thrilled to have Kaloa on our team to help NHCH become a more active partner in the community,” said Kerry Howell, Vice President of Development, Marketing and Communications. “Kaloa’s deep experience in community relations and his personal commitment to community service is a tremendous contribution to NHCH, our stakeholders and the greater community.”

Kaloa has extensive experience in community relations with multiple outlets that include U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka as Legislative and Special Assistant in Washington, D.C.; John A. Burns School of Medicine’s faculty member; Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence as Recruitment Specialist; Hui Mālama Ola Na ‘Oiwi as Executive Director; and HMSA as Community Liaison. Kaloa is Vice Chairman of the Hawai‘i County Fire Commission, a member of the Akaka Falls Lions Club and a recent board member with Hawai‘i Island United Way. Kaloa graduated from Damien Memorial High School in Honolulu, HI, received his B.A. from Whittier College in Whittier, CA, and his M.A. in Issues Management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

“I remember visiting NHCH just after it opened 16 years ago and felt a great sense of healing and peace,” says Robinson. “I wholeheartedly feel privileged to be a part of the NHCH ‘ohana and look forward to strengthening and building  relations in our community . . . being here is maika’i loa,” says Robinson.

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NHCH Receives American Heart Associations Gold Quality Achievement Award

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) has received the Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.

The recognition signifies that NHCH has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients with 85 percent compliance for at least 24 months to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with tools that follow proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalizations.

Under Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants while in the hospital. They also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.

“The full implementation of national heart failure guideline recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of heart failure patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and Director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. “The goal of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like NHCH implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients. Published scientific studies are providing us with more and more evidence that Get With The Guidelines works. Patients are getting the right care they need when they need it. That’s resulting in improved survival.”

“NHCH is dedicated to making our care for heart failure patients among the best in the country and implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure program will help us accomplish this goal by making it easier for our professionals to improve the long-term outcome for these patients,” said Doug Hiller, Orthopedic Surgeon and NHCH Chief of Staff.

Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure helps NHCH’s staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality-improvement measures, such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable NHCH to improve the quality of care it provides heart failure patients, save lives and, ultimately, reduce healthcare costs by lowering the recurrence of heart attacks.

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million people suffer from heart failure. Statistics also show that, each year, 670,000 new cases are diagnosed and more than 277,000 people will die of heart failure.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that empowers healthcare teams to save lives and reduce healthcare costs by helping hospitals follow evidence-based guidelines and recommendations. For more information, visit heart.org/quality.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Answers Questions Following Controversial Decision to Serve Maternity Patients by Zip Codes

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital answered the following questions regarding their decision to only serve patients in certain zip codes for maternity care.

Q: What is North Hawaii Community Hospital’s mission?

A: NHCH’s mission is “to improve the health status of the people of North Hawai‘i by improving access to care and providing high quality services at a reasonable cost.”

Q: Why is NHCH limiting OB patients to those who live in their service area?

A: North Hawaii Community Hospital was designed to support a maximum of 550 births each year. Last year, 663 babies were delivered, and that number is on pace to exceed 700 births this year. Overcrowding in the Family Birthing Unit raises safety concerns and puts a strain on our ability to provide outstanding clinical care to every family delivering at NHCH.

Q: Are you closing the Waimea Women’s Center or laying off midwives?

A: No, we are not closing the Waimea Women’s Center or laying off midwives. We are committed to our maternal care program and to keeping midwifes as an integral part of our team.

Q: How did NHCH arrive at this decision?

A: Six weeks ago, NHCH formed an internal Maternal Care Work Group comprised of three doctors, one midwife, six nurses and three staff members to evaluate NHCH issues of overcrowding, safety, patient satisfaction and financial and resource implications. NHCH deliberated the Maternal Care Work Group recommendations along with additional input from the NHCH Community Advisory Board, NHCH Board of Directors and public input facilitated by the Waimea Community Association. Before the executive team arrived at the hospital’s decision to ease overcrowding by defining the NHCH maternal care service area, they determined that maternal care is available on Hawaii Island.

Q: What is NHCH’s defined service area?

A: NHCH’s service area is defined by the Hawaii County Emergency Medical Response Zone, which is the area north of a line roughly running from Laupahoehoe on the Hamakua Coast across the Saddle to Kukio in North Kona. Effective immediately, NHCH’s Waimea Women’s Center will only offer maternal care services to women whose primary address is within the EMT area:

  • 96719—Hawi
  • 96727—Honokaa
  • 96738—Waikoloa
  • 96743—Kamuela
  • 96755—Kapaau
  • 96764—Laupahoehoe
  • 96774—Ookala
  • 96776—Paauilo
  • 96780—Papaaloa
  • And Kukio and Hualalai only.

Q: What are some examples of area excluded from NHCH’s service area?

A: East Side ‐ Ka’u, Volcano, Puna, Pāhoa, Hilo and Ninole are not included in NHCH’s service area. West Side ‐ North Kona (i.e., Kona Palisades Subdivision, Kaloko), Kealakekua and South Kona are not included in NHCH’s service area.

Q: Who is affected by this new service area definition?

A: The new policy affects new OB patients who live outside NHCH’s service area. An OB patient is someone receiving care for a pregnancy: prenatal, delivery or postnatal. Effective May 11th, those who live outside NHCH’s service area and become pregnant will be unable to receive prenatal care at Waimea Women’s Center or deliver at NHCH’s Family Birthing Unit. However, if a woman lives outside the NHCH service area and is currently an established pregnant patient of the Waimea Women’s Center, she can continue to receive prenatal care at Waimea Women’s’ Center and deliver at NHCH’s Family Birthing Unit.

Q: What if I live outside NHCH’s service area and have received care at Waimea Women’s Center for previous pregnancies, including delivering at NHCH’s Family Birthing Unit?

A: NHCH is unable to accept any OB patients, new or previous patients, from outside our service area effective May 11th, 2012.

Q: I live outside NHCH’s service area, where will I receive obstetric care?

A: Please refer to the below list of current providers in Hilo and Kona.

Physician/Provider Specialty Phone Office Location

Hilo Providers

  • Dr. Lucy Bucci Family Medicine 932‐4215 Hawai‘i Island Family Medicine 45 Mohouli St, Suite 101, Hilo
  • Dr. Julie Chee Family Medicine 932‐4215 Hawai‘i Island Family Medicine 45 Mohouli St, Suite 101, Hilo
  • Dr. Ian Ebesugawa OB/GYN 969‐2055 75 Puuhonu Place, Hilo
  • Dr. Randall Hirata OB/GYN 969‐7763 82 Puuhonu Place, Hilo
  • Dr. Eric Helms OB/GYN 934‐3280 Bay Clinic 73 Puuhonu Place, Suite 204, Hilo
  • Dr. Kristin McCoy Family Medicine 932‐4215 Hawai‘i Island Family Medicine 45 Mohouli St, Suite 101, Hilo
  • Dr. Karen Nakamoto OB/GYN 935‐7765 82 Puuhony Place, Hilo
  • Dr. Fred Nitta OB/GYN 961‐5922 670 Ponahawai Street, Suite 200, Hilo
  • Dr. Quye Tran OB/GYN 933‐2100 670 Ponahawai St, Suite 115, Hilo

Kona Providers

  • Dr. Christina Collins OB 331‐2300 75‐5905 Walua Rd, Suite 3, Kailua Kona, HI
  • Dr. Michelle Gilbert OB 334‐4400 Kaiser Permanente 75‐184 Hualalai Road, Kailua Kona
  • Dr. Deborah Lachance OB 334‐4400 Kaiser Permanente 75‐184 Hualalai Road, Kailua Kona
  • Dr. Santad Sira OB 329‐6447 75‐ 184 Hualalai Road, Ste 202, Kailua Kona

Q: Who is NOT affected by this restriction?

A: Anyone living within the defined service area is not affected. If a woman is currently pregnant, is already being seen at the Waimea Women’s Center for obstetric care, and lives outside NHCH’s service area, she can continue to be a patient and deliver at NHCH’s Family Birthing Unit.

Q: Can I receive GYN care at Waimea Women’s Center if I live outside your service area?

A: Yes, NHCH is accepting established and new gynecological patients who live outside our service area, since this service is not at capacity. The Waimea Women’s Center offers the following gynecological services: annual exams, pap smears, breast examinations, birth control counseling, menopause management, urinary incontinence management and more.

Q: I am a Kaiser patient who lives outside your service area. May I transfer to the Waimea Women’s Center in my third trimester and deliver at NHCH?

A: We are no longer accepting patients who live outside our service area. However, if you are a Kaiser patient who lives within our service area, you may transfer to Waimea Women’s Center and deliver at NHCH’s Family Birthing Unit.

Q: What is needed to verify my address?

A: You must present a driver’s license or legal photo ID with your current primary address. If your license or state ID does not have your current primary address, you must present a current utility bill that includes your name and address.

Q: When does this policy go into effect?

A: This new policy to address overcrowding in the Family Birthing Unit goes into effect May 11, 2012.

Q: Are other medical services at NHCH based on NHCH’s service area?

A: Other medical services at NHCH are not at capacity; therefore, NHCH will continue to accept patients who live outside the service area for all other medical service areas, which include: gynecological services in the Waimea Women’s Center, general surgery, orthopedics, emergency department, and so on.

Q: Will NHCH continue to use midwives?

A: NHCH is committed to maintaining Certified Nurse Midwives as an integral part of our maternal care program.

Q: Can you recommend a midwife as I am considering a home birth?

A: NHCH does not support home births. None of our midwives provide home birthing services.

Q: Is this decision to define service area access purely a financial one?

A: Overcrowding, patient safety and quality of care are NHCH’s primary reasons for establishing this new policy. Financial and resource implications are also factors. Overcrowding in the Family Birthing Unit has taken a financial toll with NHCH losing $7.2 million over the past three years.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Halts Delivering Babies From Anyone Not Within a Particular Zip Code

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) was designed to support a maximum of 550 births each year.

Last year, 663 babies were delivered, and that number is on pace to exceed 700 births in 2012. At present, 51% of the births at North Hawaii Community Hospital are from women who live outside of the hospital’s service area. To ease overcrowding and preserve patient safety, NHCH’s Waimea Women’s Center will only accept new maternal care patients who live within the hospital’s defined service area starting today May 11, 2012.

“Unfortunately, overcrowding has become a very real and growing problem. NHCH cannot continue to serve the entire island with over half of the babies delivered coming from women who live outside our North Hawaii service area. Our commitment is to reduce overcrowding, preserve safety, improve patient satisfaction and maintain our NHCH program where midwives are an integral part of our maternal care program,” said Ken Wood, NHCH’s President and CEO.

Six weeks ago NHCH formed an internal Maternal Care Work Group comprised of three doctors, one midwife, six nurses and three staff members to evaluate NHCH issues of overcrowding, safety, patient satisfaction, and financial and  resource implications. The NHCH executive team deliberated the Maternal Care Work Group recommendations and weighed additional input from the hospital’s Board of Directors, NHCH’s Community Advisory Board, and public input facilitated by the Waimea Community Association. By the end of this review process, overriding safety concerns prompted the executive team to take immediate action. “Before arriving at this tough decision to reduce NHCH volume to a safe and sustainable level by defining maternal care access by service area, we wanted to be sure that women from around the island would have access to maternal care services,” stated Wood. “We believe there is adequate maternal care capacity with OBs and Family Practice physicians who practice in the Hilo and Kona service areas,” stated Wood.

Defining the NHCH Maternal Care Service Area

NHCH’s overall hospital service area is defined by the Hawaii County Emergency Medical Response zone, which is the area north of a line roughly running from Laupahoehoe on the Hamakua coast across the Saddle to Kukio in North Kona.

Effective today, May 11, 2012, NHCH will only offer maternal care services to women whose primary address is within this EMT area. Residence zip code will determine eligibility for maternal health care services at the NHCH Waimea Women’s Center.

The following towns and zip codes are included in NHCH’s maternal care service area:

  • 96719 Hawi
  • 96764 Laupahoehoe
  • 96727 Honokaa
  • 96774 Ookala
  • 96738 Waikoloa
  • 96776 Paauilo
  • 96743 Kamuela
  • 96780 Papaaloa
  • 96755 Kapaau Kukio/Hualalai Only

This change impacts all new maternal care appointments, and exceptions will not be made. Women who are already active and registered in a course of maternal care treatment with Waimea Women’s Center can complete their care with NHCH.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Celebrates National Nurses’ Week

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) celebrates National Nurses’ Week May 6 -12 honoring its more than 140 nurses whose hard work and commitment go above and beyond the call of duty.

North Hawaii Community Hospital Nurses

“From the Emergency Room to long-term care, our exceptional nursing staff puts the needs of our patients first by providing the best care possible,” says Lorrie Mortensen, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at NHCH. “On behalf of the entire hospital, I wish to thank our more than 140 nurses for their time, talents and dedication.”

NHCH kicked off National Nurses’ Week with a candle lighting ceremony on Sunday, May 6th, and has appreciation activities scheduled each day this week to celebrate and honor their nursing staff. “Our nurses serve on the front lines of patient care and are always ready to address concerns, educate about the availability of treatment options and provide comfort to patients and family members. Nurses touch our patients’ lives each and every day and ensure that North Hawaii Community Hospital remains a vital part of our community,” says Mortensen.

Every year, National Nurses’ Week focuses attention on the diverse ways America’s 3.1 million registered nurses work to save lives and improve the health of millions of individuals. Annually, National Nurses’ Week begins on May 6, marked as Registered Nurses Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession.

The American Nurses Association, through its 54 constituent member associations, advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting economic and general welfare, advocating for a positive and realistic view of nursing, and lobbying Congress and the regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

NHCH Background: North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) is a rural 33-bed acute care hospital located in Kamuela, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Non-profit, community owned and locally governed, the hospital opened in May 1996 and cares for Big Island residents and visitors. NHCH offers an extensive set of hospital services that are centered on patient needs, creating a healing experience for the whole person – mind, body and spirit.

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North Hawaii Community Hospital Celebrates Its Greatest Natural Resource

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Damon

North Hawaii Community Hospital recognized nearly 60 volunteers on Wednesday, April 18th, during an annual appreciation luncheon to honor and celebrate their volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

“This year our Volunteer Appreciation Week theme is ‘Volunteers: Our Greatest Natural Resource’, says Arielle Faith Michael, Director of Holistic Healing Services and Volunteers Program at NHCH. “Volunteers are indeed our greatest natural resource. They help to lighten the load in so many areas of the hospital by assisting with filing, photo copying, answering phones, delivering items, helping visitors and patients, and even tending to the hospital’s healing gardens,” says Michael. During Wednesday’s appreciation luncheon, volunteers were honored for their service and dedication by CEO, Ken Wood, who shared, “Each volunteer plays an integral part of our healing environment, and your contributions are appreciated every day.”

The hospital is grateful to the nearly 60 volunteers who donate 15,000 hours annually. Many of them started volunteering shortly after the hospital opened nearly 16 years ago, including Julie, who has volunteered for 15 years in NHCH’s Rehabilitation Services Department. “I retired and moved to Kohala in 1994 and was delighted to see that a hospital was under construction. After shoulder surgery in 1996, I received physical therapy from NHCH’s Rehab Department and have been in the department longer than anyone who works here,” says Julie. NHCH also has several new volunteers, including Kathy, who started volunteering at NHCH 5 months ago after retiring from the airlines. “I thought it would be a fun way to support the hospital and our community,” says Kathy, who volunteers in Kohala Home Health Care and Same Day Surgery departments. “When I have the opportunity to wheel patients out to the front entrance of the hospital after their surgery, I am always amazed at their strength and resilience. They impact me so much more than I impact them, I’m sure,” says Kathy.

“Our volunteers compliment our healing environment with their personalities, talents, time and especially their love for the hospital. As members of our ‘ohana, they do their part without compensation to help NHCH achieve its mission and vision of becoming the most healing hospital in the world,” stated Michael. “This week we officially say Mahalo to our volunteers, but every day we appreciate the role each of them plays as part of our hospital’s healing legacy,” says Michael.

Anyone 18 years and older and willing to give a minimum of four hours per week is invited to apply for volunteering positions. Please contact Arielle Faith Michael, NHCH’s Director of Holistic Care Services and Volunteer Program at 808-881-4416 or via email at Arielle.Michael@nhch.com.

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North Hawai‘i Community Hospital Receives Grant to Support 24th Annual Senior Health Fair

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Damon

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital (NHCH) has received a $5,000 grant from the Richard Smart Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to support its 24th Annual North Hawai‘i Senior Health Fair. Ken Wood, President and CEO of North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, said the funds will be used to support this community outreach event.

A patient has his blood pressure checked at the North Hawaii Community Hospital

“With this grant, our hospital is able to continue this annual outreach event in our community, which is often the only time seniors in our community have the opportunity to receive health screenings by physicians, registered nurses and other medical professionals,” said Wood. “This event provides complimentary health screenings and wellness education to nearly 350 seniors in North Hawai‘i and helps to fulfill the hospital’s mission ‘to improve the health status of the people of North Hawaii by improving access to care and providing high quality services at a reasonable cost.’”

Complimentary health screenings offered at this event include: cholesterol, glucose, oral screenings, hearing tests, stroke risk assessments, skin checks, eye screenings, holistic care services, foot screenings, blood pressure, blood tests by Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i and more. Health education will also be available to North Hawai‘i seniors by the following vendors: Tutu’s House, Hawai‘i Fire Department, American Cancer Society, Chiropractor, North Hawai‘i Hospice, Kohala Home Health Care, Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i, Diabetes Wellness Center, Foodland, Legal Shield and more.

NHCH’s 24th Annual Senior Health Fair, normally held in November, has moved to Sunday, May 20th, 2012 to support National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This event is held at North Hawaii Community Hospital and registration is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with lunch, bingo and prizes to follow. For more information, please contact Laurie Edmondson by calling 808-881-4425.

NHCH Background: North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) is a rural 29-bed acute care hospital located in Kamuela, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Non-profit, community owned and locally governed, the hospital opened in May 1996 and cares for Big Island residents and visitors. NHCH offers an extensive set of hospital services that are centered on patient needs, creating a healing experience for the whole person – mind, body and spirit.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation Background: Established in 1916, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation is a statewide, charitable services and grantmaking institution endowed with contributions from many donors. Hawai‘i Community Foundation is a steward of more than 500 donor funds, including more than 150 scholarship funds, and distributes charitable funds to Hawai‘i’s nonprofit organizations through a variety of programs. Hawai‘i Community Foundation also serves as a resource on philanthropy and community investing.

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Alcy “Shorty” Johnson Leaves $1.5 Million Estate Gift to North Hawai‘i Community Hospital and North Hawai‘i Hospice

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Damon

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital (NHCH) and North Hawai‘i Hospice will each benefit from an estate gift valued at approximately $1.5 million. The bequest was made by long-time Waimea residents Alcy D. Johnson and his wife Jacque.

Alcy D. Johnson

Alcy Johnson, or “Shorty” as he preferred to be called, passed away unexpectedly on June 12, 2011, at the age of 89 in Waimea. Shorty’s wife, Jacque, passed away in 1993. Their generosity and community support continue with the creation of The Jacqueline and Alcy Johnson Memorial Fund as outlined in Shorty’s will to benefit NHCH and North Hawai‘i Hospice. The Jacqueline and Alcy Johnson Memorial Fund, held by Hawai‘i Community Foundation, will distribute proceeds annually to each organization with 60% directed to NHCH and 40% to North Hawai‘i Hospice.

Shorty was well known throughout Waimea for his volunteer activities and dedication to community service. He volunteered at North Hawai‘i Community Hospital starting April 11, 1996, even before NHCH officially opened in May of that year.

“The two trees on either side of our front lobby doors were faithfully watered by Shorty. I like to think that a part of him lives on in those trees. His warm smile and positive personality made him a true Ambassador of Aloha. ‘Shorty’ was a Press Release NHCH Page 2 North Hawaii Community Hospital, 67-1125 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela HI 96743 • http://www.NHCH.com

beautiful light, and his spirit of aloha will always be an eternal part of our healing environment at NHCH,” says Arielle Faith Michael, Director of Holistic Care Services and Volunteers at NHCH.

North Hawai‘i Hospice Executive Director Katherine Ciano, MHA, RN, says “Shorty and Jacque Johnson were vibrant members of the North Hawaii community who were service minded and participated in many projects to benefit our community. It is so fitting that they chose to plan their estate in such a way that they could continue to give back to the community they loved so much.”

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Former Director of the North Hawaii Community Hospital Appointed Senior Jobs Adviser for California Governor Jerry Brown

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Damon

The former Director of the North Hawaii Community Hospital, Michael E. Rossi,  has been named Senior Jobs Advisor for California Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr.

California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown Jr.

Media Release:

Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointment: Michael E. Rossi, 67, of Pebble Beach, has been appointed senior jobs advisor in the Office of the Governor. In this role, Rossi will be the point of contact between California’s business and workforce leaders and the Administration; he will streamline and invigorate the state’s economic development infrastructure; and he will advise Governor Brown on regulatory, legislative and executive actions needed to drive job growth.

From 2005 to 2008, Rossi served as an advisor and senior member of the operations team at Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. and as chairman and chief executive officer of Aozora Bank, taking it public in November 2006. From 2007 to 2008 he also served as chairman of GMAC Residential Capital, LLC. Rossi was retired from the private sector from 1997 to 2005. He was vice chairman and chief risk officer of BankAmerica Corporation and was the chairman of its Fiduciary and Investment Policy Committee from 1993 to 1997. Previously, he was BankAmerica’s chief credit officer and held various executive positions including running BankAmerica’s Commercial Banking, Global Private Bank, Asia, Latin America, Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Real Estate, Personal and Corporate Trust and Cash Management divisions. He also served as the senior credit officer of BankAmerica’s World Banking Group.

Rossi currently serves on the Advisory Board of Shorenstein Properties LLC, the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Monterey County, Special Olympics Committee of Northern California and Claremont Graduate University. He is also a senior advisor to the San Francisco 49ers.

Rossi is a former director of North Hawaii Community Hospital, BAWAG Bank (Austria), Pulte Homes, American Bankers Association, Monterey Institute of International Studies, American Graduate School of International Management, University of California at Berkeley Art Museum, Del Webb Corporation, BlueLinx Corporation, San Francisco Opera, National Urban League, Union Pacific Resources, Lifesavers, American Diabetes Association of California and United Way of Northern California. He was a member of the nominating committee of the Bankers Association for Foreign Trade and was the president of its Board. He also served on the President’s Campaign Cabinet for University of California at Berkeley.

Rossi received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and Rossi will serve with no compensation. Rossi is a Democrat.

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