Hospitals' Regional Board Announces Plan For Closures
HOSPITALS’ REGIONAL BOARD ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR CLOSURES
Hawai‘i Health Systems - Maui Region’s Board of Directors Calls For Phased Closures
WAILUKU, MAUI, Hawai‘i (31 August 2016) – After facing the dismal outlook of the hospitals’ operations without a public-private partnership, the Hawai‘i Health Systems - Maui Region’s Board of Directors decided in an afternoon meeting today, to enact phased closures of beds and potential hospital services.
Hawai‘i Health Systems – Maui Region’s Board of Directors release the following statement:
“In light of the letter sent to Governor Ige on August 28, 2016 by Kaiser Permanente, and the UPW initiated injunction, further deferring the transition date to July 1, 2017, the Maui Region Board of Directors has been forced to evaluate the hospitals’ ability to continue to provide safe patient care for this community.
It has been decided that if the State cannot reach agreements with both UPW and HGEA to the satisfaction of HHSC and Kaiser we will begin public hearings and notification to the Legislature, effective immediately, of Maui Region’s Phase I of its contingency plans to include:
· Reduction in capacity through bed closures - closing 8 Intensive Care Beds and 12 Medical/Surgical Beds.
· Review closures of an additional 30 more beds in other units.
· Begin Phase II planning which may include multiple service closures throughout the Region.
The impact of the bed closures will mean a decreased capacity with critical services such as Stroke, Heart, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Trauma and other critical care needs requiring transport to Oahu.
The delay in transitioning Maui Region to Kaiser Permanente has led to a high volume of staff vacancies, increased use of travelers and temporary workers, and an inability to attract staff and physicians, this first phase of closures will be the first step in addressing a dire situation to protect and preserve our patients and staff.”
Information on public hearings regarding possible service closures will be released when available.
About HHSC Maui Region
The Maui Region of HHSC serves over 11,000 inpatients and sees nearly 50,000 people in the emergency room each year. With over 1,500 employees, Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only full-service, acute-care medical facility in the County, and the only hospital outside of O‘ahu providing a full range of cardiac services, including open-heart surgery and angioplasty. For more information visit MauiMemorialMedical.org.
