HOSPITAL EXPANSION CEREMONY HELD IN NORTH HAWAI‘I

    The North Hawai‘i community welcomed the expansion of Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua on Friday, August 8 in a “groundbreaking gathering” held at the long-term care facility in Honoka‘a.  The expansion of a new wing will add 28 additional beds to the facility, which is part of the Hawai‘i Health System Corporation (HHSC). The increased capacity will provide health care options to additional families with special needs. For some time, the wait list for admittance to Hale Ho‘ola has limited these health care options for many families.

Providing more long-term care beds means freeing up acute care beds currently occupied by long-term care patients and as a fiscal benefit, increases the revenues earned by HHSC due to the higher reimbursement rates for acute care beds than for long-term care beds. This is a positive step in addressing the financial crisis now faced by HHSC.  “This facility is part of a comprehensive strategy that we have been working on to address some of the structural problems with HHSC while meeting the obligation we have to the elderly and their families in our community,” stated Democratic State Representative Dwight Takamine at the ceremony.

While providing more services will benefit families in North Hawai‘i, the expansion of Hale Ho’ola will also bring additional employment opportunities. Once completed, the new wing will create up to 50 new permanent positions, following the job cuts in many local hospitals.

“Today marks a major milestone and is the result of years of hard work by numerous individuals and organizations that have toiled to bring this important project to this point,” said Takamine, who continued, “This project also demonstrates that we are at our best when we work together to strengthen and empower our communities.”