2013-10 PCMC - AC Report 12Feb13

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Communication No. 2013-10 Progress Report/update to PCMC. Action Committee on Puna Community Medical Center Expansion and Site Acquisition February 12, 20 .3 1. The archaeologist, Robert Rechtman, has completed the archaeological survey of the site and reports that he has found nothing of significance. He will have the written report in about a week, if not sooner. 2. Sen. Russell Ruderman has put in a State CIP request for$100,000(FY 2013-14)to cover the cost of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and the architectural and site plans. I At Senator Ruderman's suggestion, a State Grant-in-Aid proposal was also submitted (as a just-in--case Plan B)for$15,000 to cover the cost of just the EA. The PCMC Action Committee's support letter was attached, as were support letters from the mayor, Robert Lindsey of OHA, and Howard Ainsley(CEO of Hilo Medical Center). Sen. Ruderman has informed us that his office will be tracking this. 4. on Jan. 11th a medical roundtable meeting was held in the County Building. Attending were representatives from Hilo Medical Center, Puna Community Medical Center, Bay Clinic, Hilo Radiologic, members of the Pahoa Plan Steering Committee, and representatives from the offices of Greggor Ilagan and Russell Ruderman. HMC and Hilo Radiologic said they were not planning any expansion of services into Puna, but were supporting PCMC's efforts,which PCMC had described. Bay Clinic shared that they are planning to renovate their current building in Pahoa to include a dental clinic, and will continue to focus on adult medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health and dental. Gilbert Aguinaldo,who will not be building a dialysis clinic in Pahoa after all, due to lack of a sewer system, pledged his support of PCMC's emergency room project. All attendees liked the idea of a Medical Park on the PCIVIC proposed site where services could be consolidated. Eileen O'Hara, representing Sen. Ruderman, asked PCMC about the timeline for completion of the EA. She suggested that if a FONS1 could be granted by the end of December, 2013,that a State grant for construction costs could be submitted by her office for the CIP budget for the next fiscal year 2014-15. There will be another meeting sometime in March, and hopefully others who couldn't attend this time Will be able to come and input(Clinical Laboratories, Bruce Hansen, State DOH, etc.) Respectfully submitted, Rene Siracusa