Maui Hospital Gains Surgeon to Support Trauma Services

MAUI HOSPITAL GAINS SURGEON TO SUPPORT TRAUMA SERVICES

WAILUKU, Hawai‘i — Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente announced the appointment of orthopedic surgeon Warren “Vic” Ayers, MD, to Maui Memorial Medical Center. A U.S. Navy veteran and board-certified orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience in trauma medicine, Dr. Ayers joins the Pacific Permanente Group, a subsidiary of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, and will be contracted by Maui Memorial Medical Center’s trauma and orthopedic departments. Through his office in Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Outpatient Clinic, Dr. Ayers welcomes all insurance carriers and new patients. Dr. Ayers earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and completed his orthopedic residency at U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego and Oakland, California. He served several appointments during his 30-year career in the U.S. Navy, including flight surgeon, senior medical officer and diving medical officer; emergency room physician and resident orthopedist at U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego; and head of orthopedics at U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan. Dr. Ayers comes to Hawai‘i from Modesto, California, where he served as the assistant chief of orthopedics for The Permanente Medical Group in Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Region. “The addition of Dr. Ayers provides invaluable coverage in the emergency department,” said Dr. Ron Boyd, Chief Medical Officer at Maui Memorial Medical Center. “His considerable experience in orthopedic surgery will be essential to supporting traumatic orthopedic injuries for all of our residents and visitors.” Maui Memorial Medical Center is home to Maui’s only trauma center, which was recently recertified as a Level III Trauma Center by the state Department of Health. The trauma center provides 24-hour coverage by emergency medical physicians. “Our goal is to provide a level of care comparable to all other hospitals in the State. We take this responsibility seriously, as the only acute care hospital on island, our staff remains committed to keeping our certifications, growing our services and attracting top medical professionals to serve our family, friends and those who visit our islands,” said Kirsten Szabo, Physician Practice Manager for Maui Memorial Medical Center. “With Dr. Ayers, we’ll grow our services and expertise to provide quality, prompt emergency care, which is critical to the overall health and wellness of Maui Nui’s residents and visitors.” “With his extensive background in orthopedics and experience in emergency medicine, Dr. Ayers will complement the hospital's dedicated physicians and staff in serving the Maui community at large,” said Dr. Geoffrey Sewell, CEO and executive medical director of Pacific Permanente Group. "We're continuing our recruitment efforts, as we look to bring in more physicians and providers who excel at delivering high-quality, compassionate care while putting patients and their families at the center of everything they do." In addition to trauma services, Kaiser Permanente has increased support in other areas of patient care at Maui Memorial Medical Center. “We understand that transfer delays have been frustrating for the Maui community, and our medical group partners are doing everything they can to support the delivery of high-quality health care on island,” said Mary Ann Barnes, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region. “Our commitment to the people of Maui and Lāna‘iremains unwavering. We are thankful to the physicians and staff at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lāna‘i Community Hospital for their collaboration and combined focus on the health and safety of patients and their families.”