Renovations Funded for Hospitals Islandwide

Hospitals in Hilo and Kona will see significant renovations as a result of funding appropriated in the past by the Legislature and released today by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

In a statement issued by his office today, Abercrombie noted that many of the projects involve replacing or upgrading aging infrastructure at the facilities.

They include $4 million for Kona Community Hospital for a variety of renovations, including expansion of the pharmacy, upgrading of the obstetric area, repair of leaking showers and upgrading of security doors.

Hilo Medical Center will get $1.59 million to replace washers and dryers in the laundry department, the majority of which are more than 22 years old and requiring costly repairs. Laundry facilities will also be upgraded at Ka`u Hospital and Hale Hoola Hamakua in Honokaa.

In December, Hilo Medical Center received $1.7 million to replace refrigeration units that had been in place since the hospital was opened 29 years earlier.

HMC will also receive $2.1 million to upgrade equipment at the Angiography Suite to bring it up to current standards, reducing the need for patients to seek such services elsewhere.

Planning will soon get underway for a new extended-care facility at HMC to replace the existing one, part of which is shown above, that no longer meets federal requirements. Courtesy photo.

Another $750,000 has been allotted for planning for a new long-term care facility to replace the existing one that no longer meets Medicare and Medicaid survey requirements.

Other Hilo Medical Center projects and their funding include $850,000 for upgrades and replacements for the hospital’s fire alarm and fire suppression systems to meet current national fire protection mandates.

Another $250,000 will be used to augment HMC’s patient security system to regulate access for dementia and Alzheimer patients and for unauthorized access to sensitive areas, and also to protect infants from abductions.

Funding earmarked for Ka`u Hospital includes:

• $201,000 to resolve problems discovered during renovations to the roof that will include improvements to doors, windows and air and cooling systems.
• $199,000 for plumbing upgrades including replacement of 40-year-old pipes corroding septic tanks.
• $75,000 for an audit to improve energy efficiency

The funding was part of $19.1 million released for improvements to state hospitals on all of the major islands.