Medical and dental clinic
will serve East Hawaii

Island health centers take steps
to address growing patient needs

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Star-Bulletin staff

Bay Clinic Inc. has opened a new Keaau Family Health Center south of Hilo to meet increasing community health needs. It's the first combined medical-dental care facility on the Big Island.

The Bay Clinic already serves communities in the Hilo, Puna and Kau districts of East Hawaii.

Stephanie Launiu, the clinic's executive director, said in a news release it is "committed to the long-term health of the Puna District. ... We have always strived to provide excellent health care in the underserved rural areas."

Many important medical services, including dental care, will be available in the new clinic, which opened Saturday, she said.

Dental care is a serious concern for many Big Island residents because of a lack of dental insurance and limited or no access to dental care, and an acute shortage of dentists participating in the state Med-QUEST Program.

Other services offered in the new family center will include family and pediatric care, acute care for illnesses and injuries, physical exams, immunizations, treatment for chronic conditions, TB tests, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy tests, confidential and free HIV testing, case management, family planning, women's health screenings and applications for QUEST health insurance.

Levaina Coyaso, a patient from the Puna District, said the new clinic is "closer to home, very convenient and great -- especially with dental being here." Added patient Yvonne Decanto, "This is just what Keaau needed."

Dr. Christine Bell, family practice physician for the new center, said, "It's exciting to open a brand-new health center in this area of Puna. Making health care accessible is an important part in keeping the families of this community healthy."

Other community health centers are taking steps to accommodate growing patient needs.

May Akamine, director of the Kalihi-Palama Health Center on Oahu, said it had a 20 percent increase last year in patient visits for adult medicine, pediatrics and women's health services. It has applied for funds to increase its patient base by 25 percent over the next two years, she said.

On Kauai, Ho'ola Lahui Hawaii and the Kauai Community Health Center are seeking to expand primary care, dental and behavioral health services to the east side of the island.

Ho'ola Lahui Hawaii hopes to open a clinic in Kapaa by the end of this year, pending funding approval, and the health center estimates it will serve an additional 1,500 patients by next year.

David Peters, Ho'ola Lahui Hawaii chief executive officer, said the program also plans to add a psychologist to the staff to enhance behavioral health services, and it is expanding its fitness programs by adding native Hawaiians to that service this year.

He said the program, under the Healthy Hawaiian Lifestyles Division, "is focused on kupuna-keiki in the Hawaiian immersion programs, and adults."