Kaiser launches Big Island home health agency for homebound members

Homebound Kaiser Permanente members on the Big Island can now have care brought to them with last week’s launch of a Kaiser Permanente Home Health agency in Kona.

The agency is designed to to provide nursing and physical therapy at home for members using assistive devices such as walkers, canes or wheelchairs or with health conditions making it difficult to leave home and are receiving care that can only be safely performed under the supervision of a skilled nurse or therapist.

“Having skilled health care professionals care for our homebound residents significantly enhances the quality of life in our community,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth. “It is particularly meaningful when those providing these services are from Hawai’i Island. This is why we are committed to partnering to further develop our workforce pipeline, ensuring that our local residents receive care from individuals who understand and share the roots and values of our island home.”

Kahu Danny Akaka Jr. led the traditional Hawaiian blessing for the new agency, which is located at the Kaiser Permanente Kona Medical Center.

The ceremony was attended by the home care team, the leadership team that supports its work and others, including Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Roth.

What initially started as a soft launch with 1 nurse and 1 physical therapist at the end of April quickly grew to a team of 6 health care professionals, with plans to continue expanding to meet members’ needs.

“I want to extend my appreciation to Kaiser Permanente Hawaii for their continued work to expand services and increase access to health care across our state,” said the lieutenant governor. “Providing access to care, especially in our most rural areas, continues to be a priority to the governor and myself and we applaud Kaiser Permanente for extending their care beyond the walls of a health care facility and bringing exceptional care to the homes of our kamaʻāina.”

Ed Chan, president of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaiʻi Market, said the small but mighty team at the Kona home health agency extends to all corners of the Big Island and its members have demonstrated their willingness to not only go the extra mile, but an extra 50.

“On any given day, there might be a nurse in Hilo providing wound care, a physical therapist in Waimea helping a member do mobility exercises following a joint replacement surgery and a nurse in Kona helping a member manage a chronic condition such as diabetes,” said Dr. John Yang, president and medical director of the Hawaiʻi Permanente Medical Group. “Removing the barrier of travel will have a life-changing impact for so many vulnerable members, in particular our kūpuna and those who are homebound.”

Angel Vargas, vice president of Kaiser Permanente Care at Home said home health is a core and vital service in the health care system.

“Our Hawaiʻi Island members and their families will now have expanded access to these services,” said Vargas. “Our mission is to bring our patients home and allow them to safely remain at home. We strive to provide exceptional experience through safe, affordable and highly reliable care.”

Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi has 3 locations on the Big Island in Kona, Hilo and Waimea serving a total of about 31,000 members. It also operates Kaiser Permanente Care at Home Health agencies on Oʻahu and Maui.