KONA, HAWAI‘I – In a milestone collaboration aimed at transforming health care delivery in West Hawai‘i, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation West Hawaii Region (WHR), The Queen’s Health Systems (Queen’s), and Ali‘i Health Center have formalized a shared workforce agreement after a year and a half of strategic dialogue.
This initiative brings together Kona Community Hospital, Kohala Hospital, and provider groups from Queen’s and Ali‘i Health Center under a unified effort to keep care local and strengthen specialty services on the island.
The groundbreaking agreement allows health care providers from all three organizations to deliver services across each other’s facilities, creating a seamless, patient-centered care experience and enhancing access to specialized care close to home.
“This agreement represents a huge step forward in how we collaborate to meet the needs of our West Hawai‘i communities,” said Dr. Jeffrey Palmgren, Chief Medical Officer of WHR. “By sharing our workforce and aligning our goals, we can build a true physician group culture that supports our current providers, attracts new talent, and ultimately keeps our patients from having to leave the island to get the care they need.”
The shared workforce model is designed to:
- Keep health care local by reducing the need for off-island referrals
- Expand access to a broader spectrum of specialty care
- Foster a unified physician group culture for improved recruitment and retention
- Develop a pipeline of future providers through Graduate Medical Education
“At Queen’s, we are deeply committed to our mission to provide quality health care services to improve the well-being of all the people of Hawai‘i,” said Dr. Whitney Limm, Executive Vice President of Clinical Integration and Chief Physician Executive at The Queen’s Health Systems. “This partnership sets the stage for sustainable growth in the region’s health care system, ensuring that patients receive high-quality, coordinated care.”
Dr. Daphne Edmonston Hemmings, a general surgeon with Queen’s University Medical Group (QUMG), will be the first physician to provide care to West Hawai‘i patients under this new agreement starting June 6, 2025. QUMG is a prestigious team of more than 750 providers representing 17 specialties.
“We thank West Hawaii Region and Ali‘i Health Center for this innovative partnership that will deliver access to a broader network of providers and services, advance workforce development, and improve the overall health of West Hawai‘i communities,” said Dr. Rick Bruno, President of QUMG. “Queen’s is pleased that this agreement will mean better care and an enhanced experience for patients on Hawai‘i Island.”
“This partnership reflects the power of working together with a shared vision of community-centered care,” added Dennis Tognoli, Interim CEO of Ali‘i Health Center. “We’re proud to be part of this initiative, which will expand services, improve continuity of care, and create new opportunities to grow our local health care workforce.”