Lanai Community Hospital Welcomes Maui Health System

Access to quality and affordable health care is critical for any community. As the island’s only hospital, Lanai Community Hospital plays an important role in providing emergency, acute and long-term care to roughly 850 patients every year.

Recently, Lanai Community Hospital had the opportunity to welcome a new partner in health to the island, marking the beginning of an exciting transformation in health care for Lanai residents.

New partners and team members

On July 1, Lanai Community Hospital and its sister hospitals, Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kula Hospital on Maui, officially became a part of Maui Health System. The historic transfer is the first public-private partnership of its kind in the state, and will help support core services at the hospitals.

Following the transfer, Lanai Community Hospital welcomed a new addition to its team. Kimberly Fuson is the new senior director of long-term care and critical access for Lanai Community Hospital, as well as Kula Hospital. She has more than 20 years of health care experience, and is looking forward to working with the Lanai community to improve and expand hospital services.

“I am inspired by the love, honor and respect demonstrated by the Lanai Community Hospital staff and am excited to continue the quest for ever greater quality with this team,” said Fuson.

Maui Health System is also working with several community partners, including Fresenius Dialysis, Hospice Hawaii-Lanai, Ke Ola Hou O Lanai, Lanai Community Health Center, Lanai Public Health, Pulama Lanai, Rainbow Pharmacy, Straub Clinic and Venture Physical Therapy on ways to collaborate and improve health care on the island.

Improving the patient experience

Many residents might be wondering what’s changed at the hospital, and what they can expect if they find themselves facing a hospital stay.

Fortunately, patients and family members will continue to see many of the same familiar faces caring for them — 97 percent of staff across all three hospitals accepted positions under Maui Health System.

Residents will also be glad to know that Lanai Community Hospital, as well as its sister facilities on Maui, will continue to be operated as community hospitals and serve all patients regardless of their health insurance coverage.

Behind the scenes, Maui Health System has introduced new technologies, including a state-of-the-art electronic medical record system called KP HealthConnect which allows different members of a patient’s care team to view charts and coordinate treatment in real time. It also alerts providers about potential drug interactions or harmful side effects so that patients can be treated safely and efficiently.

Thanks to the partnership between Maui Health System and Lanai Community Hospital, residents can look forward to a healthier future with improved access to the health care services they need.