A ground blessing was hosted Nov. 12 at North Hawaii Community Hospital, as crews prepared to start construction on the hospital’s new emergency room.
A ground blessing was hosted Nov. 12 at North Hawaii Community Hospital, as crews prepared to start construction on the hospital’s new emergency room.
Doctors, nurses and other staff members, along with contractor Allied Builders System, joined together in a blessing by kahu and NHCH Board of Trustees member Billy Mitchell.
“North Hawaii Community Hospital’s emergency room is a critical medical service in the delivery of emergency care in the North Hawaii region, providing continuity of care and an essential connection to emergency and trauma services at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu,” said NHCH President Cindy Kamikawa.
To address an increasing number of emergency visits, the new ER will expand from the existing 3,300 square feet to more than 12,000 square feet. It will house 13 multi-use rooms (11 standard and two trauma rooms), a centralized nurses work station, new ambulance and patient/family entry points, a new waiting room and other support spaces.
The increased space and efficiency in emergency care will allow staff to deliver care in a family- and patient-centered environment and can accommodate future growth.
The new ER is expected to open in early 2020.
