A new dialysis facility is slated to open in Kona, adding 21 stations for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease to receive the life-saving treatment.
U.S. Renal Care applied for and received a certificate of need from the Department of Health in February 2021 and is now moving forward with plans to open in the Kona Coast Shopping Center. A certificate of need from the State Health Planning and Development Agency is required to construct, expand, eliminate, initiate or modify a health care facility or service.
U.S. Renal Care (USRC) has already submitted plans to Public Works for permit approval to build the facility in the old Pier 1 store at the at the shopping center on Palani Road that’s anchored by KTA Super Stores. An online hearing on the plan design with Kailua Village Design Commission is slated for Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
The work proposed to the building includes adding a generator and enclosure, trash enclosure, awning, addition of handicap spaces, and new doors and windows.
The certificate of need states 809 Big Island dialysis patients are currently being served by 81 dialysis stations through Liberty Dialysis facilities in Kona, Hilo and Waimea, which the company said is inadequate.
However, Nancy Biegler, director of operations for Liberty Dialysis on the Big Island, said the actual number of patients being served is less than 400 and Liberty Dialysis facilities are running well below capacity.
“If we did max capacity of three shifts a day, six days a week at our Kona location, we would be able to serve 432 patients. We are currently at 97,” said Biegler
USRC Clinical Coordinator Liza Josue-Cabaccang testified in the certificate that there is limited capacity to isolate infectious (COVID) patients from the general patient population to limit the virus’ spread or to close facilities to deal with disinfection.
“This lack of supply puts patients at risk in the current environment and needs to be addressed immediately,” she said.
Biegler disputes that claim, noting the Kona facility goes beyond CDC guidelines .
USRC did not respond to a request for additional information as of press-time Thursday.
State Sen. Dru Kanuha (D-Kona, Ka‘u) supports the new facility in Kona.
“Hawaii’s kidney failure rate is 30% higher than the national level and a majority of our residents requiring dialysis treatment identify as Asian and/or Pacific Island ancestry; hence, the clear need for an additional dialysis center in West Hawaii,” said Kanuha. “For more than a year, my office has worked closely with U.S. Renal Care, as well as the Department of Health’s State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) and the County of Hawaii to work through permitting and other regulatory hurdles. We are excited to see our work come to fruition and improve the quality of healthcare for residents with this valuable resource.”
Kanuha also addressed the physician shortage on the Island.
“To address the state’s doctor shortage, we plan to expand the residency program for the John A. Burns School of Medicine to the neighbor islands, where doctors are especially needed. About 80% of graduates who perform their residency in Hawai‘i, stay in Hawaii to practice and this program would provide a pipeline for doctors to work on the neighbor islands,” he said. “While we celebrate the work we have accomplished with the new dialysis center, we are ready for the work ahead during the 2022 legislative session to address the many healthcare needs of our Hawaii Island community.”
Individuals interested in submitting verbal testimony via Zoom to the Kailua Village Design Commission may register at zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfumqrzsuHQ2ewRaAuWgGSf9URWPIJPU. Written testimony may be submitted by email or in person and is due no later than 4:30 p.m. today to planning@hawaiicounty.gov.
The public will be able to view the meeting at youtube.com/channel/UCAFoRMb3rf-WLQMPd6TAkEGA?viewas=subscrber