Hilo Medical Center is making progress on its long-awaited outpatient pharmacy and lobby renovation project.
The main lobby has been closed at HMC for a few weeks as contractors work to reconstruct the entire area.
The new lobby will be expanded to include private admitting bays for a better check-in experience, as well as an outpatient pharmacy to serve its clinics, the emergency room and hospital patients, according to the HMC administration.
The $2.6 million lobby expansion and renovation will give HMC patients a more convenient experience when visiting the hospital.
“The current renovations have been disruptive, but the community has really rallied behind the changes for the needed improvements,” said HMC spokeswoman Elena Cabatu. “This will gives patients a better experience, with more services in one area.”
HMC has also added a second catheterization laboratory, or cath lab, to expand cardiac care in East Hawaii. The $5 million unit is nearly complete and is awaiting equipment and furniture.
The cardiology clinic eventually will expand into the location of the vaccine clinic.
Additionally, the orthopedics clinic will be moving from the second floor down to the current administration space to expand the clinic and serve more patients.
Administration will be moving to the East Hawaii Behavioral Health Clinic across from HMC.
Chief Information Officer Kris Wilson predicts the lobby will be finished by June or July, and the entirety of the first floor renovations and expansions will be complete by fall 2022.
“After 36 years, HMC is ready for an infrastructure change so we can provide safe and effective care to more people,” Wilson said. “I think our patients and staff are ready for updated technology and some more breathing room.”
HMC received capital improvement project allocations from the state totaling $5 million for the new cath lab, $2.6 million for the lobby and $2.9 million for the orthopedic and cardiology clinics.
The first floor will also be receiving a makeover with new floor-to-ceiling windows and new flooring to make the space more modern and open.
“We want our spaces to reflect the quality of care our patients will get every time they come to us,” Cabatu said.
The construction at the East Hawaii Health Cancer Center also is moving along and is set to be complete by fall. The new space will allow for more specialty care and will give staff more room in the busy building.
HMC is looking to the future as well with a 30-bed intensive care unit expansion on the second floor, though plans to start that project have not been solidified.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com