Milestones

Hilo Medical Center
Additional respiratory testing now available
   Complete pulmonary function (PFT) studies are now available at Hilo Medical Center (HMC) for inpatients and outpatients. The addition of Total Lung Volumes and Diffusion Studies to the existing two simple flow spirometry tests allows East Hawaii residents to have their respiratory status evaluated right in Hilo. These studies can identify the existence of emphysema, diffusion defect or pulmonary fibrotic disease; manage patients with known pulmonary disease; quantify pulmonary disability; and be used for preoperative evaluation.

HMC turns out for AHA Health Fair
  Hilo Medical Center once again played a major role in the American Heart Association Health Fair and Walk in January. More than 1,000 participated in the walk through downtown Hilo, and more than 30 vendors turned out for the health fair held at the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium. HMC staff helped to coordinate the annual event.

Asthma sufferers find "Safe Haven" on New Year's Eve
   This past New Year's Eve, the medical center's ground floor conference rooms were the site of a "Safe Haven," similar to the Safe Haven program on Oahu. HMC provided an enclosed area as a respite from celebratory fireworks for those suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions. The program was sponsored by pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoWellcome Inc. and Key Pharmaceuticals. Keith Kanetani, a respiratory therapist with Hawaii Respiratory Services and Apria Healthcare, and Wendy Rabago, from the local asthma organization, were volunteers on hand to provide education during the evening. Local retailers donated games, videos and snacks. Dr. Ben Ono, a Hilo pulmonologist, was the physician champion for the event. The medical center will be working with the American Lung Association and all volunteers to plan for this event next year.

Surgical Services Hosts the Chamber
   The Same Day Surgery Center and the Operating Room staff hosted the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event for February. Hilo business leaders toured the surgical services area and learned about special procedures performed at the medical center, including kyphoplasty (to correct spinal compressions such as osteoporosis), mammatomes (a less invasive breast biopsy procedure), and esophageal manometry (non-invasive diagnostic procedure for gastro-intestinal/heartburn symptoms). Chamber members were pleased to find such procedures available on-island and, as in the case of kyphoplasty, available only in Hawaii at HMC.

Kohala Hospital
Yim honored by University of Phoenix
  
A faculty member since 1993, Administrator Herb Yim was among several faculty honored by the University of Phoenix for service as a teacher as well as a course development coordinator for the graduate schools (MBA, Nursing Master's and Health Care Management).

Kona Community Hospital
Hospital Advisory Council renamed
  The Hospital Advisory Committee has renamed itself the Hospital Advisory Council to better reflect its revitalized mission. Under the leadership of the new chairperson, Reggie Morimoto, this group is assuming an "ombudsman" role in representing consumers and the hospital.
  To assist in this process, Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has developed an educational program to show how and why the hospital functions in certain ways. The first program was a walk-through of the new behavioral health unit, Kalani Ola. The schedule for the next quarter is: ER (April 3); Long Term Care (May 1); and OR (June 5).
  Among new ideas, the group suggested a KCH Hall of Fame to recognize those individuals in the community who have distinguished themselves by providing support and service to the hospital "far above the call of duty."

Team participates in Prime Time Health Fair
  A dynamic team from Kona Community Hospital participated in the West Hawaii Prime Time Health Fair, sponsored by the First Hawaiian Bank at the Royal Kona Resort in March. Designed for senior citizens age 50 and above, the fair is held in partnership with Hilo Medical Center.
   KCH operated the blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose testing stations along with an information booth about the services available at the hospital. More than 700 attended the fair, which featured over 20 informational booths.

Computer donation gets patients "surfing"
  Long-term care patients are "surfing" the Internet now, thanks to a new computer donated by the Kailua-Kona Lions Club. Patients can use the computer to e-mail family and friends and "chat" with others who have similar medical conditions. Fundraisers held during the last year supported the service project.

Maluhia
PACE breaks ground for expansion
  The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE Hawaii) broke ground in January for an improvement and expansion construction project that will add more than 1,000 square feet of space to its facility at Maluhia.
   "The new facilities will allow us to expand upon our group activities, dining and exercise program," said Audrey Suga-Nakagawa, PACE director, adding that the center will then be able to service a total of 120 participants.
   The new facilities, which will be constructed at a cost of nearly $300,000, should be ready for use in June 2001. PACE is one of Hawaii's premier home and community based programs serving frail seniors who reside in Honolulu, Aiea and Pearl City. Participants receive medical care, rehabilitation therapies and exercise as well as recreational activities and socialization.

Maluhia receives "International Health Care Friendship Award"
   Maluhia was recently honored by the Zhongshan City Department of Health for outstanding performance in promoting international understanding in health care.
   Maluhia Administrator Jay Duquette accepted the prestigious "International Health Care Friendship Award" from Huang Dan Ping, chief administrator of Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan City, People's Republic of China.
   Twenty administrators from the Zhongshan City Department of Health were in Honolulu in January attending a seminar sponsored by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. The seminar, entitled "American Hospital Management," provided the administrators with an overview of the health care industry in Hawaii and the U.S. Duquette was a featured speaker at the seminar.
   The Zhongshan City Department of Health is a hospital system similar to  HHSC. They operate 10 facilities ranging in size from the 700-bed Zhongshan
City People's Hospital to the 20-bed Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
of Zhong Shan.

Maui Memorial Medical Center
New MRI most advanced in the state
   In keeping with the current mode of making vast improvements to Maui's only acute care hospital, Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) recently unveiled the most advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the state of Hawaii.
   The new MRI is smaller, faster and provides more detailed information. It will also relieve a backlog of patients, while allowing physicians to do an assessment of cardiovascular systems as well as stroke evaluations and evaluation of potential tumor tissue.
   "We are striving to provide more complete health care options for our neighbor islanders, and this is just another step along the way," says Jonathan Weisul, M.D., Maui Memorial medical director. "Our goal is to provide optimal comfort and customer satisfaction for our patients while keeping them here on Maui for all the latest procedures."   
   The $1.4 million MRI is housed in a newly expanded facility designed to accommodate the equipment. An important feature of the MRI is its size-at almost half the length of the older model and considerably wider, it allows patients to feel more at ease and have greater visibility outside the MRI, which overlooks a window to the outside.
   "Another important feature is the non-invasive imaging of vessels. This allows us to use an intravenous method that is non-iodine based, which is a positive alternative for those who are allergic to iodine," said Dr. Weisul. "The current software available for this MRI will provide more dramatic results while eliminating the need for invasive procedures. We are very excited about the potential benefits that this will provide for our community."
   About 60 community members attended a February open house to learn more about this latest advancement at Maui Memorial.

The Health Promotion Hui...an idea whose time has come
   Prevention is a topic many of us think nothing about unless we become sick or have a life-threatening illness. Well, prevention of disease is clearly the mission of the Health Promotion Hui, which was recently launched after several months in the planning and development phase.
   It was developed by Maui Memorial CEO Boyd Kleefisch, Medical Director John Weisul, M.D., and Abbie Murray, Maui representative on the Tobacco Settlement Health and Wellness Advisory Group. The Hui is a volunteer-based organization that seeks to impart important medical and health information to our community in order to raise prevention awareness and encourage healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life for citizens. The group holds free public seminars at the Maui Memorial Medical Center auditorium on the third Saturday of each month.
   A small but enthusiastic audience attended the opening and were treated to an opening chant by Akoni Akana, who spoke about the importance of the symbol for the Hui.
   "The hand is laulima, which is cooperation, or a group of people working together, and represents the Hui. Lauloa is a variety of taro brought to Hawaii. 'Oha is the taro corm growing from the older root, especially from the stalk called kalo; it is a shoot or offspring and represents the next generation or youngsters with whom we are charged with teaching these principles of health," he said.
   "Start Healthy Maui" kicked off the Hui in January. Speakers were Charles Ballard, M.D., Guy Sugino, M.D., Lorrin Pang, M.D., and David Kern, M.D., who spoke about the importance of diet, exercise, preventive medicine and the role of your family physician.
   February's program explored "The Healthy Heart" with guest speakers Howard Barbarosh, M.D., James Muto, M.D., Jed Alaimalo, M.D., and Daniel Garcia, M.D. They provided an overview of the heart, its components, functions, how it can be damaged and, most importantly, how to prevent that from happening. MMMC also provided free cholesterol screenings for those in attendance.

Lassen gives art of healing
   A total of 19 framed art works by Christian Riese Lassen were donated to Maui Memorial Medical Center by the Lahaina Gallery and the new Gallery at Wailea. Lassen, Hawaii's internationally acclaimed marine artist, is committed to restoring the hope that people can contribute to the healing of our earth and our home. The art pieces will be used throughout the hospital facility to bring beauty and healing to the hundreds of people who pass through its doors each week. The artist's mother, Carol Lassen, is the President of Lassen International Foundation, which has provided philanthropic help to non-profit organizations on Maui over the years.

Foundation receives $40,000 from Maui association
   The Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation received a $40,000 gift from the Maui County Fair Racing Association (MCFRA) in February when the longtime organization dissolved and distributed funds to several non-profit agencies on Maui. The organization conducted the Maui County Fair for 70 years at the Kahului fairgrounds.
   A change in the location and management of the fair prompted the board to discontinue its operation and distribute funds that had accumulated over time. The funds were donated in recognition of the late Alfred O. Souza, who served as president of the MCFRA for many years.

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