HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0724.001 1996-1998 I
~ ~ a. BAY CLINIC, IN
_ A family of
professionals committed to improving
the health of their communities
Hilo Bay Clinic Ka`u Family Health Center Pahoa Family Health Center
311 Kalanianaole Avenue PO. Box 70 P.O. Box 1455
Hilo, HI 96720 Na`alehu, HI 9677`2 Pahoa, HI 9677~~.
(808) 969-1427 (808) 929-7311 (808) 9f~ J711
Fax (808) 9fi1-4795 Fax (808) 929-9087 Fax (80~~5-6~p _
February 12, 1998
James Arakaki, Chairman
Hawaii County Council
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairman Arakaki,
Bay Clinic, lnc.'s Boazd of Directors respectfully requests an opportunity to
discuss with you our hopes to bring amuck-needed healthcaze facility to the Keaau area.
As you may know, Bay Clinic, Inc. is a network of community health centers
whose healthcare professionals specialize in providing caze to rural communities and to
the medically-underserved. Our three health centers -the Hilo Bay Clinic, Pahoa Family
Health Center and Ka'u Family Health Center in Na'alehu provide healthcare to over
12,000 patients annually for a total of 33,000+ patient visits. We are the lazgest provider
of QUEST services on the Big Island, and we accept most types of insurance coverage.
We employ 50 people who live in our service districts of Hilo, Puna and Ka'u, and feed
over $4 million into the local economy through our payroll, purchase of supplies and
services, referrals to medical specialists and ancillazy services, and inpatient admissions
to Hilo Medical Center and Ka'u Hospital. If we were to close our doors today, not only
would 12,000 patients need to find another healthcare provider -almost 3,000 of those are
uninsured... We are the only healthcare provider that charges our patients according to
federal poverty guidelines -they are charged on a sliding fee scale based on their income.
Bay Clinic, Inc. is a SO1C3 organization with acommunity-based Board of
Directors comprised of residents from Hilo, Puna and Ka'u. Al] three of our health
centers are federally-qualified health centers (FQHC's), which have brought important
federal designations to both Pahoa and Ka'u as Health Professional Shortage Areas
(HPSA's).
~a ~ a~I.o
~,~e nv. 6i-lSL
"ServlNg you U/ttb ,Aloha " F
Ref. ?n:
Rxt. I~te FFA 1 q 19QR
We have access to various federal and state programs and funding which have
allowed us to expand service into areas which have not proven to be profitable operating
azeas to for-profit healthcare organizations.
The Puna District is renowned for its residents' low income levels, isolated and
so-called substandard subdivisions, and lack of medical services. Our Pahoa Family
Health Center has provided the only primary care in the Puna District since November
1991.
The Hawaii County Council recently passed Resolution 216-98: A Resolution
Requesting Funding and Implementation of a Rural Health Plan for the Districts of Puna
and Ka'u. Bay Clinic, Inc. strongly supports this resolution; we aze notifying our state
legislators that this health plan is long overdue and badly needed in these two districts in
which we serve. But we know that funding and implementation of a plan will take a few
years to come to fruition, and we know that Puna families need more healthcare now.
Bay Clinic, Inc. would like to present you and the County Council with our
proposal to build and staff a facility in the Keaau area which would serve both Puna
Makai and Puna Mauka with a comprehensive health center, urgent caze services, xray
and lab services, a pharmacy, and space for other ancillary services and social services
which Puna residents must drive into Hilo to receive. We have already researched our
possibilities for both public and private funding, the feasibility of our plan and the need
for the services.
We would like the County Council to assist us in the acquisition of land in the
Keaau azea, possibly through conveyance or a reasonable long-term lease. We hope that
the Council will see an opportunity for an excellent return on their investment through
increased access to healthcare for Puna residents, a unique public/private partnership with
Bay Clinic, Inc., and an increase to Puna's tax base because accessible healthcaze services
are an attraction to potential residents.
We have confidence that you will be able to advise us on how best to proceed, and
that your proven concern for the well-being of Puna's families will be the guidance that
we need. Please feel free to call me at 934-3206. You may also call our Board President
Toddy Martin at 965-7618. Thanking you in advance for your consideration of our
request.
Aloha,
Stephanie Launiu
Executive Director