KAILUA-KONA— From his conversations with The Queen’s Medical Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Naalehu Rep. Richard Creagan can’t see any major obstacles to establishing the state’s first teaching hospital above Kona International Airport.
“I think it’s going to happen, sooner rather than later,” he said.
There are a lot of ways the hospital could benefit West Hawaii and the island as a whole, Creagan said. The facility could replace a cramped and outdated Kona Community Hospital, draw badly needed doctors to the island, increase training opportunities for medical professionals all across the state — plus present Queen’s with a new, attractive facility as the center eyes entering into a public-private partnership to take over West Hawaii’s public hospital.
Jerris Hedges, the dean of JABSOM, expressed qualified support for the undertaking in an email to West Hawaii Today.
“This is a long-term discussion that makes a lot of sense, provided that multiple parties including the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and another Hawaii-based health system can come together around the development of a replacement hospital for the Kona area,” Hedges said. “JABSOM and other UH health science programs could serve as strong collaborators to help staff the facility while providing education that will create a provider pipeline for the Big Island and enhance professional opportunities for local students.”
Of course, there’s always the money. But now that the funding for the Kona Judiciary Complex has been secured, lawmakers say it’s time to pursue hospital funds.
Kona Sen. Josh Green pegs the full price tag for a new hospital around $300 million. And Kona Rep. Nicole Lowen has kicked off what many hope will be the first real money put toward the idea.
Lowen, whose district includes the proposed site on state land mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway between the airport and Hawaii Community College — Palamanui, has placed $1 million for a feasibility study in the House Supplemental Budget, which goes to a full House vote this coming week.
“It would be great for the entire state but especially here, bringing in a rotation of physicians who would be more likely to stay,” said Lowen, a member of the House Committee on Finance.
Green said the goal now will be to preserve that funding in the Senate draft of the budget.
“It’s a good start,” Green said. “We do need a new hospital quite badly, which will likely need to be built in partnership with Queen’s or another investor.”
Creagan said he was encouraged by a meeting with a leadership team at Queen’s and sat down with Hedges to discuss how to set up the group that would conduct the feasibility study. He said he is hopeful the study will include a preliminary design. That’ll help sell the idea to what Creagan considers a key player in the plan moving ahead — the wealthy private donor.
“It really could be a boon,” Creagan said. “A lot of older folks live out there who are very rich and worry about their medical care. They could be key to getting things done more quickly rather than fighting for funds over here (at the Capitol). A lot of people like Hawaii and want to come here but don’t like the idea we don’t have a really good hospital.”
