Maui Hospital: Top-Notch Care In Paradise

Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only acute care hospital on the island. It is a not-for-profit organisation that provides high-quality healthcare to Maui and Lanai residents and visitors. The centre has been rated high-performing in 4 adult procedures and conditions and is a general medical and surgical facility. While some patients have had positive experiences at the hospital, others have reported issues with staffing shortages and access to specialty care. The Maui Health System is working towards improvement, with a focus on patient care and building a more local workforce.

Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only acute care hospital on the island

The hospital has been rated high-performing in four adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News, which ranks hospitals using unbiased methodologies. The ranking takes into account patient experience ratings across ten key categories and evaluates hospital performance in health equity. Maui Memorial Medical Center is also working towards improving patient care and experience. They have reported no cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia since July of last year and have established a Patient Care Experience Department. This department focuses on visiting patients and their families daily and offering services such as pet therapy.

The centre has also introduced private rooms for new mothers (when not at capacity) and allowed visitors to stay overnight. Additionally, they are making efforts to show employee appreciation by offering perks such as free coffee in the mornings and expanding healthy cafeteria options. However, some employees feel that the changes are more aesthetic than substantive, and there are concerns about a severe staffing shortage. Maui Memorial Medical Center is facing challenges in retaining experienced nurses due to ongoing contract issues and low morale.

Maui Memorial Medical Center offers a range of services, including oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, and radiation treatment. While it may not be the best choice for specialised or long-term cancer treatment, it can adequately handle common procedures and conditions. For anything requiring highly specialised care, patients may need to be airlifted to Oahu for better healthcare options.

Maui Health is a not-for-profit organisation providing healthcare to Maui residents and visitors

Maui Health is a not-for-profit organisation that provides healthcare to Maui residents and visitors. The Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only acute care hospital on the island. It is located in Wailuku and serves as the primary hospital for Maui and Lanai residents. The facility offers a range of medical and surgical services and has been rated high-performing in four adult procedures and conditions by U.S. News.

Maui Memorial Medical Center is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care to all, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. The hospital has a team of over 1,300 caregivers and a large community of providers dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the community. While the hospital has received positive reviews for its efforts to improve patient care and experience, it has also faced challenges, including staffing shortages and contract issues affecting employee morale.

In recent years, Maui Health has implemented several initiatives to enhance patient care and the work environment for its employees. They have introduced a Patient Care Experience Department, which focuses on visiting patients and their families daily and offering services such as pet therapy. Additionally, Maui Health has prioritised the recruitment of additional oncologists and other specialists to meet the community's growing healthcare needs.

The Maui Memorial Medical Center has also made improvements in infection control, with no reported cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a year. They have also introduced private rooms for new mothers and allowed visitors to stay overnight. Furthermore, Maui Health is committed to building a more local workforce, hiring nursing graduates, and reducing the reliance on travelling nurses.

While Maui Health and the Maui Memorial Medical Center strive to provide quality healthcare, some individuals with complex or specialised medical conditions may need to seek treatment on Oahu or the mainland. This is particularly true for oncology and infusion care, as Maui has faced challenges in recruiting enough oncologists and specialised staff. However, for common procedures and conditions, Maui's hospital is well-equipped to handle the healthcare needs of residents and visitors alike.

Maui Memorial has received positive reviews for its patient care and experience

Maui Memorial Medical Center, the only acute care hospital on the island, has received mixed reviews from patients and locals. While some have shared negative experiences, others have praised the hospital for its patient care and expertise.

One patient shared their life-saving experience at Maui Memorial, where doctors successfully diagnosed a rare condition that had been missed by another hospital. They also acknowledged the hospital's experience in treating serious and ocean-related injuries, which many mainland hospitals do not typically encounter. U.S. News rankings further support these positive reviews, with Maui Memorial Medical Center rated as high-performing in four adult procedures and conditions. The hospital has also been recognised for its efforts to improve patient care and experience. For instance, the creation of the Patient Care Experience Department demonstrates a commitment to structured and focused care for patients and their families, with initiatives such as daily visits and pet therapy.

Maui Memorial has also implemented improvements in maternity care, offering new mothers private rooms and allowing overnight visitors. Additionally, the Maui Health System has shown employee appreciation by providing free coffee, awarding recognition, and expanding healthy cafeteria options. These changes, however, have been criticised by some staff as being primarily aesthetic and geared towards profit-making departments.

Despite these efforts, Maui Memorial faces challenges, including a severe staffing shortage, particularly in specialty care and oncology. While the hospital has taken steps to address this by hiring new nursing graduates and recruiting more oncologists, ongoing contract issues and low morale among employees have resulted in the departure of experienced nurses.

Overall, while Maui Memorial has received some positive feedback for its patient care and experience, it also faces ongoing challenges related to staffing and specialty care availability. Patients and visitors are advised to consult their local doctors and be prepared to return to the mainland if specialised care is required.

Maui hospitals face a severe staffing shortage, especially among specialists

Maui hospitals have long faced staffing shortages, a problem that has been exacerbated by high housing costs and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Maui Health Communications Director Tracy Dallarda, the issue is not unique to Maui, with hospitals across Hawaii and the wider United States also experiencing shortages. However, the lack of affordable housing options on the island has made it particularly challenging to recruit and retain physicians and other medical specialists.

Maui Health, a not-for-profit organization providing healthcare to Maui and Lanai residents and visitors, has acknowledged the physician shortage on the island. In 2018, a Hawaii physician workforce survey revealed that Maui County was short by about 141 doctors, including 44 primary care physicians. Maui Health has committed to addressing this gap by bringing in at least 10 physicians per year for three years, with four new doctors joining in 2024.

The nursing shortage has also been a significant concern for Maui hospitals, with the pandemic further straining the healthcare system and contributing to burnout among healthcare workers. Maui Memorial Medical Center, the only acute care hospital on the island, has felt the impact of these shortages, with staff feeling "stretched thin." The high cost of living and inability to accrue savings have also been cited as reasons for medical workers considering leaving Hawaii, with nearly half of Maui residents reporting a worsening financial situation since the Lahaina fire.

While Maui hospitals continue to face staffing challenges, particularly among specialists, they remain equipped to handle medical emergencies and provide care to residents and visitors alike. Maui Memorial Medical Center, for instance, has a team of over 1,300 caregivers and a large community of providers committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

Maui hospitals are capable of handling medical emergencies and serious injuries

Maui Health is a not-for-profit organisation that provides high-quality, patient-centred, affordable care to all residents and visitors on Maui and Lanai. They have a team of over 1,300 caregivers and a large community of providers who are committed to providing exceptional service. Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) is the only acute care hospital on the Valley Isle.

Maui Health provides emergency medical services 24 hours a day at three locations. The Maui Memorial Medical Center ER is a Hawaii State-designated Level III Trauma Center for advanced trauma care for major injuries. It is also a designated Primary Stroke Center, meaning they can provide rapid treatments for strokes, limiting the risk of permanent disability. The MMMC sees more than 50,000 visits a year, which means that the providers and nurses provide a high level of care daily.

Kula Hospital's ER offers urgent and limited rural emergency care for Maui's growing up-country population. They treat cuts that may need stitches, broken bones and other injuries that may require x-rays and splinting, wound care, and cold or flu symptoms. The Kula ER staff is equipped to administer IV fluids and medications, and because Kula is less busy than MMMC, wait times are typically shorter.

Lanai Community Hospital ER is another option for emergency care on Lanai. A doctor who is board-certified and residency-trained in emergency medicine will see patients at any time, day or night. The ER has access to imaging and lab services, which helps staff quickly evaluate and address various urgent medical conditions.

While Maui hospitals are capable of handling medical emergencies and serious injuries, some locals and visitors have expressed concerns about specialty care and staffing shortages. In some cases, patients with cancer or requiring oncology care have been directed to Oahu for treatment. However, Maui Health is committed to providing the best possible care to all patients, regardless of insurance or ability to pay, and their experienced and highly trained medical team is passionate about delivering advanced healthcare services in Hawaii.

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