On April 3, 2020, the HHSC West Hawaii Region Board of Directors named Jay Kreuzer into the role of Acting CEO of the West Hawaii region, which includes Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital.
The Board decision was made in order for then-Acting CEO, Linda Rosen, MD to return to her full time position as CEO at the HHSC corporate office on `Oahu.
Frank Sayre, DDS and West Hawaii Region Board Chair said the decision to have Kreuzer step into the Acting CEO role provides seamless coverage for the Region, which is crucial during the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sayre said, “We’re very appreciative of Dr. Rosen’s leadership and guidance over the past several weeks, but understand her need to get back to her full time responsibilities.”
Beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, the Kona Ambulatory Surgery Center (KASC) and Kona Community Hospital (KCH) will be partnering to collect donated surgical masks and N-95 respirators.
The two healthcare organizations are seeking surgical masks and N-95 respirators in original, unopened packaging to augment supplies at KCH should additional supplies be needed.
Kona Ambulatory Surgery Center has been designated as the drop off site for donated items. Donations will be accepted Monday – Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm. The surgery center address is 75-5905 Walua Road, Suite 4 in Kailua-Kona. Donation receipts will be provided.
Please contact KASC clinical manager, Nadine Calloway Reese at (808) 331-7960 or by email at nreese@konaasc.com.
“The community has expressed so much interest in helping during this unprecedented time,” said Katherine Cholet, KASC Administrator. “We’re humbled by that, and also happy to help Kona Community Hospital in their preparations for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients.”
Kahu Kealoha Kaopua blesses the newly renovated operating room at Kona Community Hospital at Thursday’s unveiling.
Kahu Kealoha Kaopua blesses the newly renovated operating room at Kona Community Hospital at Thursday’s unveiling.Kahu Kealoha Kaopua blesses the newly renovated operating room at Kona Community Hospital at Thursday’s unveiling.Kona Community Hospital unveiled its newly remodeled state-of-the-art operating rooms Thursday morning.
Over two years of planning and construction went into the complete renovation and upgrade of the Kealakekua-based facility’s three operating rooms at a cost of about $6 million. The majority of that funding came via the state capital improvement project fund with the Kona Hospital Foundation supporting some of the cost.
“We are pleased we can bring you these new services, having 21st century services for our community,” said Chief Nurse Executive/Associate Hospital Administrator Sean McNeal. “We are very invested in delivering the best possible care starting with the most high risk area.”
Currently, the Kona Community Hospital Surgical Services Department performs over 2,200 surgical procedures annually. Operating suites are equipped for inpatient, outpatient, elective and emergency procedures. Prior to the renovation, the OR was equipped with outdated equipment.
The construction began about 19 months ago by completely demolishing one OR suite at a time down to the studs.
Each suite was then rebuilt with brand new, state-of-the-art equipment and technology down to the OR tables. New technology includes equipment booms, air conditioning system, LED lighting system, and video integration to provide better images during surgery, just to name a few.
“Each OR was built with integrated technologies that create an improved, more efficient space,” said Charlie Cholet, RNFA, and director of Surgical Services.
The biggest change to the rooms is the integration package. Surgery is all about having the right information, whether it be X-rays, lab results, history or other information, Cholet explained.
In the past, a doctor would have to walk up to a screen to look at an X-ray, then walk back to the table or stop to read the patient’s chart. Now, the information that the doctor needs is at his fingertips. Any information they want to see is on a monitor in front of them instantaneously. That efficiency could cut the OR turnover time by half.
“The complexity of the rooms is outstanding, between the air exchanges, HEPA filters, flooring, everything is in the name of patient safety, said McNeal. “That’s the key message we want to drive home is that we care enough about our community that we want to keep them safe, especially during something as possible for harm as surgery. We are blessed to have this facility and share it with the community.”
Because the new technology cuts the time a patient spends in the OR, it in turn reduces the risk for complications and infection.
“Any time you are under general anesthesia, it’s not a normal situation for your body,” said Cholet. “The longer a surgery takes, the greater the chance for infection, so by decreasing the time, we decrease the risk.”
Cholet said KCH is in the process of expanding a number of procedures it can undertake in the facility, including joint replacement, hand surgery, urology, expanded gastrointestinal and minor vascular procedures.
Plans are to keep a procedure room, created when construction was underway to maintain three operating rooms, to handle things such as pediatric dental and GI. With the additional room and efficiency from the new integrated system, Cholet said the surgical unit will be able to accommodate more procedures.
And the modernized rooms will help attract and keep more surgeons at the hospital.
“When surgeons considering coming here and saw what we had, it wasn’t a selling point,” Cholet said. “This is.”
Added McNeal: “Stay tuned. It’s only going to get better.”
December 12, 2019, 6:00 AM HST (Updated December 11, 2019, 10:55 PM)
Kona Community Hospital is about to get a face lift — and should become a comfortable atmosphere for patients, visitors and employees in the process.
Earlier this month, the State awarded Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation with $1.5 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for a variety of upgrades and renovations at KCH, according to Sen. Dru Kanuha (D – Hawai‘i Island).
Gov. David Ige made the general obligation bond funding official by way of a letter to Kanuha sent on Dec. 2, 2019, which Kanuha posted on Facebook Wednesday.
“This project will provide construction and design funds for renovations and upgrades to various heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems throughout (KCH),” the description portion of the letter said.
Kanuha expressed excitement because of the improvements and what they mean for the future of the hospital.
“These improvements will benefit the experience of patients and staff alike, and will allow KCH to continue serving our community for many more years to come,” he said. “It’s milestones like this that help move our community forward and (encourage) us all to continue advocating for our community’s most vital resources.”
September 25, 2019, 1:32 PM HST (Updated September 25, 2019, 1:32 PM)
Dylan Palazzo, a registered nurse in the Kona Community Hospital Surgical Services department, is preparing to depart on a humanitarian medical mission to Havana, Cuba, on Nov. 6, 2019.
OR Nurse Dylan Palazzo and coworkers
Palazzo is participating as an operating room nurse volunteer for Operation Walk Albany (OWA). He will join a team of 50 volunteer medical specialists whose mission is to provide free orthopaedic surgical care to patients who suffer from debilitating bone and joint conditions.
Operation Walk Albany is a chapter of parent organization, Operation Walk. Operation Walk (OW) is a volunteer medical nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides free orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeries to underserved areas, both in the US and internationally. Operation Walk is also committed to training local orthopedic healthcare professionals on advanced surgical procedures to treat diseases of hip and knee joints.
Palazzo learned of Operation Walk Albany several years ago while working as an OR nurse at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York. He was inspired by OWA founder and surgeon Jared Roberts’ role in a previous Operation Walk mission to Panama
When OWA began seeking a volunteer medical team to participate in their Cuba humanitarian efforts, he knew this an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.
The trip will be Palazzo’s first humanitarian medical mission.
When asked why he volunteered, Dylan said, “These patients could never have access to these surgeries. Orthopaedic surgeries give patients a better quality of life by increasing mobility and relieving pain. I just knew I wanted to help.”
Dylan’s enthusiasm is contagious when he says, “This is going to be a great experience and I’m super excited to have the opportunity to do this.”
Over a four-day period, the OWA medical team will conduct 60 surgeries representing $2 to $3 million of care.
The primary focus now for OWA team members is to raise funds for the cost of the humanitarian trip to Cuba, which is approximately $150,000. All trip costs are covered via fundraising and donations. Operation Walk Albany has established a GoFundMe page.
Charlie Cholet, RN, Surgical Services department manager, says that the entire department is proud of Dylan’s upcoming volunteer trip.
“He exemplifies the caring spirit of the Surgical Service staff at KCH,” Cholet. “His tireless energy and cheerful demeanor will be a tremendous asset for the mission.”
September 16, 2019, 1:19 PM HST (Updated September 16, 2019, 4:14 PM
Kona Community Hospital (KCH) Cancer Center hosted an open house event on Sept. 14, 2019, to introduce its partnership with The Cancer Support Community (CSC). The partnership will deliver social and emotional support services to those touched by cancer in West Hawai‘i.
KCH is the first hospital in Hawai‘i to integrate CSC’s programs and services into the hospital setting, a KCH press release said.
Susan Ash-Lee, senior director of Clinical Services at CSC introduced the organization, whose focus is on three major pillars—direct services, policy and advocacy, and research and training. The CSC’s affiliate network includes 175 locations in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Israel.
Patient- and caregiver-centered resources now available via the KCH/CSC partnership include MyLifeLine, an online support community that fosters connection, inspiration and healing through interactive blogs and community discussion boards. Additionally, CSC’s Helping Calendar provides practical and private support to patients, their families and their friends during the cancer journey.
The CSC’s Cancer Support Helpline and “Open To Options” guided discussions are staffed by licensed mental health professionals and offer short-term supportive counseling. These services are personalized and free.
Ash-Lee also presented the Cancer Support Community’s recent partnership with Airbnb. This collaboration offers free housing to cancer patients and caregivers who must travel for treatment or medical care. The program provides relief for those facing a financial struggle to travel away from home for care.
“Social and emotional support services, as well as housing assistance, are all greatly needed in West Hawai‘i,” said Vicky Atkinson, RN, patient navigator at the KCH Cancer Center. “We’re very excited to provide these resources to our patients and their caregivers.”
Also on hand at the Saturday event was KCH Pharmacist Marilinda Passon, who answered patients’ questions about medications and supplements. Likewise, KCH dietitian Sue Little was available to discuss how food and nutrition affect cancer treatment.
The Cancer Support Community’s mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community, the release said. For information, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org.
September 3, 2019, 8:16 AM HST (Updated September 3, 2019, 8:16 AM)
Kona Community Hospital (KCH) last week named Liana Steindamm as its 3rd quarter DAISY Award recipient for extraordinary nursing.
Steindamm, a Women’s Health Unit nurse, was nominated by the father of a newborn who was delivered at KCH. The nominator described Steindamm as a “wonderful nurse” and credited her hard work and commitment with making their “stay feel like home,” a KCH press release said.
KCH recently partnered with the DAISY Foundation to honor extraordinary nurses. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families, the release continued.
“We’re all so proud of Liana,” said Stephanie Irwin, KCH education director and DAISY Committee member. “She is an amazing nurse, and this is a well-deserved award.”
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families or colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Kona Community Hospital to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented quarterly at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients and visitors.
The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
April 25, 2019, 5:08 PM HST (Updated April 25, 2019, 5:08 PM)
The Kona Community Hospital (KCH) dietary department welcomed Chef Sam Choy to its inaugural guest chef event. The occasion, held on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, was in celebration of KCH’s healthy dietary initiative ‘Ai Pono, Ho‘omaka ana—Eat Healthy, New Beginnings.
Sam Choy shows off Loco Moco Kona Style and Vegetable Adobo on April 24, 2019. Courtesy photo.
Chef Choy’s award-winning cuisine represents the ideals of KCH’s dietary initiative: fresh, local dishes influenced by the land and people of Hawai‘i. Chef Choy and the KCH cafeteria staff prepared Loco Moco Kona Style and plant-based Vegetable Adobo.
Meals featured fresh, locally grown ingredients and were served to hospital staff and visitors through Ginger Café. Patients on standard diets were also offered their choice of the special entrees.
KCH Dietary Staff. Courtesy photo.
In March, after six months of working with Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners to improve the cafeteria program, the KCH cafeteria achieved several milestones. Twenty-five percent of the food served to hospital staff and patients was sourced from local farms through the addition of new local food vendors such as Adaptations, Fresh Island Fish, Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative and long time vendor, Cal-Kona.
Additionally, the cafeteria launched a new grab-and-go scratch-cooked breakfast menu resulting in an
increase in participation of 103%.
The daily offering of scratch cooked healthy meals continued to gain support with hospital staff choosing vegan meals for the first time in their life and asking for recipes to make the dishes at home.
Sam Choy and Amber Martin prepping veggies for Vegetable Adobo on April 24, 2019. Courtesy photo.
“Chef Choy’s recipes were delicious,”, said Judy Donovan, marketing and strategic planning director at Kona Community Hospital. “He was amazing in the kitchen and charming with staff and visitors. This event was truly a celebration to recognize the achievements of the entire dietary department.”
February 4, 2019, 2:45 PM HST (Updated February 4, 2019, 2:45 PM)
Kona Community Hospital expanded its ongoing healthy dietary initiative to include more organic, locally-grown ingredients. The initiative ‘Ai Pono, Ho‘omaka ana—Eat Healthy, New Beginnings—launched in September 2018, also welcomed a vegan chef to the team to bring creative plant-based entrees to the hospital’s Ginger Café.
KCH Dietary Employees.
The hospital reached a local food purchase rate of 25% in November, 2018. With the recent addition of produce vendor, Adaptations Inc, the hospital will see an even higher percentage of local, organic foods in the Ginger Café and in patient meals.
Adaptations Inc sources from 70 Hawai‘i Island farms and offers delivery to the hospital twice weekly. Maureen Datta, co-owner of Adaptations, cites the mutually beneficial relationship in providing local food to the hospital, “Good food is good medicine,” said Datta. “Farm fresh produce harvested to order is bursting with nutrition and doesn’t travel through the traditional supply chain from off-island. A hospital’s cocern is health and our food hub enables the cafeteria team to focus on providing tasty healthful meals for their patients, staff and visitors.” Adaptations’ role in managing the quality control, food safety concerns, availability, invoicing, consolidation and timing logistics for the hospital make it easier for the hospital to source local food.
KCH Cooks with Vegan Chef Hyejin Terry.
Ginger Café diners and hospital patients select from a meat and a plant-based meal option daily. House favorites such as chicken adobo, kalua pork and cabbage, and beef tacos compliment the new vegan/vegetarian meals requested by an increasing number of people addressing health and environmental concerns.
Hyejin Terry, Beyond Green Sustainable Food Partners chef, specializes in vegan cuisine. She most recently served as a Cook and Baker at Sweet Cane Café in Hilo. Terry brings a skill in preparing vegan dishes that appeal to the most faithful meat eaters. Terry describes her cooking style as “hearty, comfort food” stemming from her Southern U.S. roots.
Dietary Manager, Obed Hooper prepares Ulu for Vegan Stir Fry.
“This year we are turning our focus to bringing fresh, cooked from scratch meals to our patients”, says Judy Donovan, Marketing and Strategic Planning Director at Kona Community Hospital. The effort stems from the hospital’s commitment to make healthy choices easier as a Blue Zones Project. The Ginger Café was the first hospital on Hawai‘i Island to earn certification as a Blue Zones Project ApprovedTM restaurant.
be partnering to collect donated surgical masks and N-95 respirators.
KCH Announces DAISY Award Winner
