Fact Sheet: Acute Emergency Care for West Maui

Acute Emergency Care, according to rules defined by Social Security and Medicare, is treatment "for an acute (immediate and severe) episode of illness, for the subsequent treatment of injuries related to an accident or other trauma, or during recovery from surgery. Specialized personnel using complex and sophisticated technical equipment and materials usually give acute care in a hospital.

A HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL FACILITY?

The West Maui Hospital in Lahaina, Maui, according to current plans, will be a nonprofit corporation set up by the West Maui Improvement Foundation to provide acute emergency care. Key members of the development and operating team have included financial advice and consultations from Innovative Capital, consultations and and studies by QHR Quorum Health Resources and preliminary financial feasibility studies by Leann Strasen RN DPA FACHE, consultant, Sullivan-Lakier Group. .

There has been some confusion about the type of medical facilities proposed for West Maui. A proposal by Maui Land & Pineapple Company and Hawaiian Health Systems announced in a press release issued January 9, 2005 has confused residents about facilities proposed for West Maui. This joint proposal appears to be for a nursing home/long term care facility with the possibility of some extended urgent care hours. These plans have not been defined nor have details of a letter of intent to donate land for the facility been put in final form. The Maui Pine/HHSC proposal does not provide for ambulance delivery emergency acute care. Residents and visitors surveyed by the West Maui Taxpayers Association say their greatest concern is for "acute emergency care services" from 5 pm to 8 am, services that apparently will not be provided by the Maui Pine/HHSC proposal.

NEED

Medical experts agree that survival rates of critical stroke and heart attack victims increase dramatically when patients reach a full service hospital with one hour: the so-called "Golden Hour." West Maui does not have an acute emergency care hospital to serve 50,000 residents and visitors and 5,000 people who work here. No immediate acute care is available to take care of stoke and heart attack victims or those who suffer life-threatening injuries or other medical emergencies.

PROBLEM

In a medical emergency, residents and visitors only real choice is to dial 911. Paramedics arrive within five, 10, 20 minutes or more later. Studies of Maui County records show it takes an average of 66 minutes for a patient to Maui Memorial Hospital by ambulance during normal traffic periods. Road traffic or road closures increase this time. Additional minutes are lost until a patient sees a doctor. The Golden Hour is gone, and perhaps a life itself is gone.

THE CLEAR SOLUTION

Build an acute care emergency hospital in West Maui. Health care experts retained by The West Maui Improvement Foundation have conducted four separate studies that prove this need as well as the financial feasibility of a new hospital .

OBSTACLES

Maui Memorial Medical Center--the only hospital on Maui--is funded by the state. State funds are in short supply due to a variety of reasons too complicated to review here. Maui Memorial, also for complicated reasons, traditionally has seen no need for a hospital in West Maui.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED

State of Hawaii law says no hospital can be built without the state granting a "Certificate of Need" by proving that a hospital is needed and viable. This provision has often discouraged and effectively prevented building needed hospitals.

PROPOSED WEST MAUI HOSPITAL SERVICES

Acute Emergency Care with full service emergency room, in-patient care, in-and out patient surgery, and state of the art imaging

FACILITY

A $30-million to $35-million 25-bed acute emergency care full-service hospital

PHYSICIAN SERVICES

LOCATION

14 acres donated by Ka'anapali Development Corp adjacent to the Lahaina Civic Center, midway between Kapalua and Olowa and just a few minutes from Lahaina and the majority of West Maui visitors centered in Ka'anapali

FUNDING

$4 million in capital from public donations, including $4 million in startup costs. Balance from a FHA Section 242 mortgage loan financed by a 100% non-recourse loan from HUD.

KEY APPROVALS OBTAINED

Due to environmental and many other concerns, unique to Maui, new projects move along slowly The good news is that many key hurdles have already been met. These include a binding legal agreement for the land donation, state land commission reviews, and a completed Environmental Impact Survey. The Maui County Council and Maui Planning Department has also pledged support for the hospital.
Work is now underway to complete a new Environmental Assessment drawing upon data previously gathered.

WHEN?

The West Maui Improvement Foundation needs to raise $4 million in startup funds as quickly as possible. An initial $500,000 is needed immediately to begin hospital design work. Target goal for a hospital opening: the end of 2007.

WHAT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CAN DO

• RESIDENTS: Contribute to the "Golden Hour Fund." And contribute quickly.
• VISITORS: Contribute to the "Golden Hour Fund". Give something back to the Maui you love and may return to.

TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION

West Maui Improvement Foundation
181 West Lahainaluna Road Suite I, P.O. Box 10338
Lahaina, Hi 96761

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