Hilo Medical Center gets $1M grant

Hilo Medical Center will receive $1 million to alleviate a shortage of health care workers in East Hawaii.

Through a grant from the Hoveida Family Foundation, the Hilo Medical Center Foundation will be able to improve its employee recruitment and retention activities as well as expand the medical services available to the Hilo and East Hawaii communities.

According to a Monday statement from Lisa Rantz, executive director of the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, the funds will be used to establish scholarship programs and physician subsidies to attract more medical professionals to the island.

The grant also will allow for the formation of a steering committee made up of mental health providers, health care organizations and Hawaii County officials to identify ways to improve access to mental health services.

“This transformative investment will enable us to make significant strides towards advancing mental health care in our community,” Rantz said in her statement. “As a part of the community, we have witnessed the lack of available medical and mental health care services on our island. Families should not have to suffer the expense and time it takes to travel off island to receive the medical care they so greatly need and deserve. Individuals dealing with a mental health crisis should be given the opportunity to seek out psychological help instead of being forced through the criminal system.”

The Hilo Medical Center Foundation also announced Monday it has purchased and renovated a 4,013-square-foot home at an unspecified East Hawaii location that will provide accommodations for medical students participating in clinical rotations.

The house features multiple bedrooms, three fully equipped kitchens, common rooms and other amenities, and has been extensively renovated to include modern furnishings, upgraded electrical and plumbing systems and more.

“We understand the challenges that students face when relocating for their clinical training, and our goal is to alleviate those concerns by providing a comfortable and supportive living environment,” Rantz said in her statement. “We believe that this investment will not only enhance the overall experience of our students but also contribute to the development of future health care professionals in our community.”