AlohaCare awards Bay Clinic $40K grant

AlohaCare’s latest Access to Care grant continues support for Hawaii’s community health centers as they seek solutions to provider shortages throughout the state.

AlohaCare recently awarded East Hawaii’s Bay Clinic a $40,000 Access to Care grant to assist with the recruitment of new providers. Since 2009, AlohaCare has provided nearly $2 million in grants to bring new providers to Hawaii.

Bay Clinic is the second-largest health center in the state and more than 22,000 residents rely on Bay Clinic for primary care. Bay Clinic consists of seven health centers: Hilo Family Health Center, Hilo Family Dental Center, Hilo Women’s Health Center, Ka‘u Family Health &Dental Center, Keaau Family Health &Dental Center, Pahoa Family Health Center and Pahoa Women and Children’s Health Center.

In addition, Bay Clinic operates a mobile health unit — equipped with one primary medical exam room and one dental operatory — to serve rural East Hawaii families.

“We know there are many factors that effect a person’s health and well-being, and access to primary care is a key determinant of health in a community,” said Laura Esslinger, AlohaCare’s chief executive officer. “Bay Clinic is a significant source of primary care for East Hawaii residents and we’re glad to be partnering with them to improve the health of our members.”