HOSPITALS
MARK TERRILL / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Harry Sherwood, left, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency inspected damage yesterday to an operating room at Kona Community Hospital with earthquake specialist Jeff Lusk. CLICK FOR LARGE
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Kona facility has limited operations, but structure is deemed to be stable
Earthquake damage to the Kona Community Hospital is estimated at $5 million, but state engineers have found the Kealakekua facility to be structurally sound.
Spokeswoman Emily Mendez-Bryant said about 10 percent of the facility is operational and officials expect the hospital to be functioning at 30 percent of capacity by the end of the week. It will not be fully operational for about four weeks.
An assessment team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited the hospital yesterday morning to see the damage.
Hospital officials evacuated 69 patients Sunday after a pair of earthquakes shook ceiling tiles loose and knocked equipment to the floor.
"The emergency room stayed open. Some ER patients were temporarily moved into a tent right after the tremors until the damage could be assessed," said Mendez-Bryant, regional community relations director with Hawaii Health Systems Corp.
Since Sunday, 14 patients have been seen for minor injuries.
Kohala Community Hospital is in full operation after hospital staff and community volunteers worked to clear away debris. Fifteen people have been treated in the emergency room since the quakes, considerably more than the usual two or three patients, but none with serious injuries.
Long-term care residents were returned to their rooms after being relocated to the cafeteria for several hours after the quakes struck.
A structural engineer is expected to assess damage at the Kapaau facility this week, according to an announcement from Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Visible damage included cracks in the walls and fallen ceiling tiles.
At Kona, the obstetrics/gynecology unit is closed but the hospital will admit a woman in labor, the spokes- woman said. The surgery department is also closed except for one operating room available for emergency procedures.
There are currently 14 people hospitalized in Kona, Mendez-Bryant said. The quarters for 29 long-term patients, who were moved to the Sheraton Keauhou Convention Center on Sunday, are expected to be ready for their return by the end of the week.
Six acute-care patients were flown to Hilo Medical Center aboard a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft.
The hospital has collaborated with other hospitals and the emergency medical services to provide necessary health care, Mendez-Bryant said.