HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0724.000 1996-1998 The Bay Clinic, Inc. Rt-cEty®
Pahoa Family Health Center a
PO Box 1455 ~ ,al~..~.'
Pahoa, HI 96778 •_..,y~CouMx.c_a,ndJ,r
James Arakaki, Chairman February 12, 1998
Hawaii County Council
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Mr Arakaki;
1 am writing today on behalf of Stephanie Launiu our Executive Director, to initiate a discussion
on how The Bay Clinic, Inc. might acquire the lands in the Kea'au area upon which we would
construct and operate a clinic and urgent care facility. We would like to ask if it is feasible for the
Council give us the needed land out right or on a low cost, long term lease basis.
The Council knows that The Bay Clinic operates three facilities which are committed to addressing
the health service needs of the people of Puna, Ka'u and Hilo Districts. These facilities are
Community Health Centers with Board Directorship coming directly from those communities. We
would like to take that Community Health Center model to the Kea'au area. Such a facility would
have the following advantages;
- It would be mission driven communiri led and have anon-profit cor~rate basis.
This would assure maximum community input, the highest priority given to service, and the
recycling of revenues into improved and expanded service delivery.
- It would bring basic comprehensive and urgent care services closer to the under
served communities that stretch all the way from Pahala and Kalanana to Hilo. It would also
relieve a lot of Hilo Medical Center's Emergency Department's huge non-critical case load.
- It would be a center similar to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's
Emergency Department; extended hours (24 hours, as soon as that would be possible), fully staffed
and equipped to triage, manage, and/or transfer all levels trauma and illness (with full laboratory,
x-ray, and pharmacy services)
- It would become a driving_force in the "economic engin" of that rapidly rg
owing
area by employing a full time staff and adding to the already large contribution that The Bay Clinic
makes to the Hilo Medical Center (with admissions) and to the specialists in Hilo to whom we refer
for consultation.
The Council also knows that The Bay Clinic has been interested in making this happen for some
time. If it were not for the cost of the land, we would probably be established there already. If the
Council would facilitate our acquisition of the necessary property, then we would seek Federal start-
up monies to build the facility, and would assume full responsibility for its operation.
tt~r. zti„ F c
tear. nave FEB 1 3 1998
As participants in the State Health Planning and Development Agency's(SHPDA) current initiative
to develop a comprehensive, outcomes driven plan for The Big Island, we are aware of the priorities
that have been set, and the needs which must be met in the delivery of health services to the people
we serve. We believe that our concepts are sound and well targeted and hope that The Hawaii
County Council will assist us in this imporCant initiative.
Please feel free to contact me at 965-9711 (Pahoa Family Health Center).
Sincer
Dan Domizio P H
Clinical Programs Director