Molokai Community Health Center

Overview
Moloka‘i Community Health Center (MCHC) is Hawai‘i’s newest Community Health Center. In 2003, several community organizations got together and applied for federal funds to open a Community Health Center focused on basic primary care for the people of Moloka‘i. In April 2004, MCHC opened its doors in Kaunakakai.

Services
MCHC will concentrate on the residents’ need to gain access to basic primary care that focuses on chronic disease, substance abuse, mental health, and care for the elderly, along with assistance with accessing specialty services.

Special Populations/Health Issues
Low-income families, Native Hawaiians, immigrants, uninsured and under-insured. These special populations have barriers to health care that include, but are not limited to, poverty, language and culture, geography, and availability of resources. Health indicators suggest problems typical of low-income Asian and Pacific Island communities. They include high rates of asthma, diabetes, obesity, vaccine-preventable diseases, cardiovascular disease, combined socioeconomic and maternal and child health risk, substance abuse, mental health, and dental disease. Problems of access include low per capita numbers of primary care providers and limited health facilities.

Contact

28 Kamoi Street, Suite 600
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Phone: (808) 553-5038
Fax: (808) 553-5194

Executive Director: Jina Lee
Medical Director: Daniel Shuman, DO
Dental Director: Charles Curtis, DDS

Na Puuwai
Na Puuwai, Inc. is the Native Hawaiian Healthcare System for the islands of Molokai (including Kalaupapa) and Lanai.  The Lanai uit is known as Ke Ola Hou O Lanai. Target Population: The estimated 6,000 Native Hawaiians residing on the islands of Molokai and Lanai. Services Provided: Programs are designed to promote better health and prevent diseases among Native Hawaiians. These include:

• Dental education for elementary school children;
  
• Cancer awareness education and prevention;
  
• Promoting the traditional Hawaiian diet and healthy nutrition classes;
  
• HIV/AIDS education and prevention;
  
• Asthma education;
  
• Exercise and fitness;
  
• Screening and education including breast and cervical cancer screening, hearing screening for children, podiatry evaluation and education, and cardiovascular disease risk education and screening;
  
• Tobacco control education; and
  
• Diabetes education and prevention.

Major Health Issues
These include preventable chronic diseases and getting children off to a healthier start in life. Other issues include coping with few health care and other resources on small, rural islands.

Staffing
These include community health workers, an RN, and physician consultants.

Contact
Na Puuwai
P.O. Box 130
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Phone: (808) 553-3653
Fax: (808) 553-3385
Website: www.napuuwai.com

Ke Ola Hou O Lanai
P.O. Box 713
Lanai City, HI 96763
Phone: (808) 565-7204
Fax: (808) 565-9319

Executive Director: William Akutagawa, MSW aku@aloha.net

HOSPITALS

Molokai General Hospital
Molokai General Hospital is a 30-bed rural healthcare facility with the only emergency room and urgent care clinic for the 7,000 residents and visitors on the island of Molokai. It became part of The Queen's Health Systems in 1987. The hospital provides acute, long-term care, and low-risk obstetrical inpatient services. It also offers kidney health, diabetes management, preventive health, high-risk weight management, compassionate care/hospice services, family planning and family support services on an outpatient basis. Many of the hospital's preventive health services to the large Hawaiian community on Molokai are offered in partnership with Na Puuwai, Native Hawaiian Health Care System.

Given the range of services it must provide to the island's small population, MGH's patient care services are made possible through substantial subsidies from both The Queen's Health Systems and the State of Hawaii. Additionally, through a grant provided by The Queen's Medical Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MGH has been able to provide services through its Auinala (end of life services) program. With the support of agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, The Queen Emma Foundation, Na Puuwai, The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the HMSA Foundation, and the UH School of Medicine's Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence MGH also is spearheading the Native Hawaiian Heart Health Initiative.

Contact
Molokai General Hospital
PO Box 408
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Phone: (808) 533-5331
www.queens.org/qhs/mgh.htm