WAIMEA — After more than two years of planning, North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) pharmacy staff has moved into a new location within the hospital.
Prior to the move, employees joined in a blessing led by Kahu Billy Mitchell, a NHCH board of trustees member. The hospital’s President Cindy Kamikawa and Pharmacy Director Anthony Fazio welcomed employees, and Liana Honda, the hospital’s Native Hawaiian health manager, presented a Hawaiian oli, or chant.
The new pharmacy is not open to the public but serves all of the pharmacy needs of patients staying overnight at the hospital.
“The new pharmacy provides us with more space and upgraded technology, offering enhanced safety for both patients and staff,” Fazio said. “In addition, the new pharmacy will assure that we are ready for new regulations related to pharmaceuticals and medication in the future.”
Kamikawa added, “The completion of this project reflects the commitment of The Queen’s Health Systems to the provision of quality care to the people of North Hawaii.”
The last significant renovation project at NHCH was the MRI suite in 2001.