The Big Island is set for a healthcare upgrade with the announcement of a new outpatient care center in Kailua-Kona. This facility will be built in partnership with The Queen’s Health Systems, adjacent to the new hospital they are developing, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. This development promises to bring much-needed expanded medical services to the underserved west side of the island, creating potential opportunities across various sectors.
The project involves a collaboration between Queen's Health Systems and the West Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. The new outpatient health care center is a result of this collaboration. This public-private partnership is seeking $50 million in capital improvement funding from the state. The approximately 50,000-square-foot facility will be situated on land donated by Queen's to HHSC, the state's public hospital system, as outlined in a report by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Beyond direct healthcare benefits, the new facilities are poised to stimulate economic activity. The development will create new job opportunities within the healthcare sector, estimated to be between 350-450 jobs at the outpatient center alone. The new hospital, slated to be an 80-bed facility, along with the outpatient center, will create a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem in Kona. This will potentially attract further investment from related businesses, including medical suppliers, support services, and real estate developers looking to provide housing for the influx of healthcare professionals and staff.
The project aims to address long-standing challenges like physician shortages and limited access to care in West Hawaii. By teaming up with the state of Hawaii and The Queen's Health Systems, there is an established path to tackle these issues together. The strategy includes providing a “one-stop hub” for specialized care, integrating advanced diagnostics and a helipad for efficient patient transfers, to make sure care is available locally and quickly, as told by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also makes the island more attractive for healthcare professionals, fostering long-term stability and growth for Kona's communities and businesses.
