A traditional blessing makes official the changeover of 3 county hospitals
A maile lei is set to be untied during blessing ceremonies Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center. -- Maui Health System photo
Gov. David Ige (from left) stands with Dr. David Ulin, chief medical director at Maui Health System; Ray Hahn, hospital administrator; and Mary Ann Barnes, Hawaii president of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan; Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center following the untying of a maile lei during a blessing ceremony. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. public hospitals, including Maui Memorial, officially transferred to the management of Kaiser subsidiary Maui Health System. -- Maui Health System photo
Maui Memorial Medical Center ward clerk Vanessa Yanos (seated) works on a patient record in Kaiser Permanente’s HealthConnect information technology system Saturday morning at the hospital. HealthConnect technician Sharon Hashimura (standing at left) and cardiac monitor technician Letty Machacon watch as Yanos trains on the comprehensive electronic health record system. -- The Maui News / BRIAN PERRY photo
Native Hawaiian chanters make their way down a hallway Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center, blessing the facility with prayers and water. -- Maui Health System photo
A maile lei is set to be untied during blessing ceremonies Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center. -- Maui Health System photo
Gov. David Ige (from left) stands with Dr. David Ulin, chief medical director at Maui Health System; Ray Hahn, hospital administrator; and Mary Ann Barnes, Hawaii president of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan; Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center following the untying of a maile lei during a blessing ceremony. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. public hospitals, including Maui Memorial, officially transferred to the management of Kaiser subsidiary Maui Health System. -- Maui Health System photo
Maui Memorial Medical Center ward clerk Vanessa Yanos (seated) works on a patient record in Kaiser Permanente’s HealthConnect information technology system Saturday morning at the hospital. HealthConnect technician Sharon Hashimura (standing at left) and cardiac monitor technician Letty Machacon watch as Yanos trains on the comprehensive electronic health record system. -- The Maui News / BRIAN PERRY photo
Native Hawaiian chanters make their way down a hallway Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center, blessing the facility with prayers and water. -- Maui Health System photo
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The Maui News
WAILUKU -- With prayers, chants and blessings led Saturday morning by kumu hula Kapono'ai Molitau at Maui Memorial Medical Center, the management of Maui County public hospitals transferred from Hawaii Health Systems Corp. to Kaiser Permanente subsidiary Maui Health System.
"This is an historic accomplishment for the State of Hawaii, where our state administration, the Legislature, public-sector unions, the Maui Region board of directors, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation leadership, and a private health care provider joined forces to ensure continued delivery of quality health care," said Gov. David Ige.
The hospitals are Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital. There were private blessing ceremonies at all three facilities.
The three facilities will continue to operate as community hospitals and clinics, treating patients regardless of health insurance coverage. About 93 percent of the 1,500 formerly state employees have accepted jobs with Maui Health System and will continue working at the facilities as private-sector employees.
"Maui Health System will contribute additional assets and expertise in delivering health care to Maui's people for many years to come," Ige said. "I thank the employees for their loyal service and dedication, and I wish them success in their new roles with the Maui Health System."
He called the official changeover Saturday a "proud moment."
"In this time of uncertainty for health care across the country, the stakeholders came together, put their individual interests aside in favor of the collective interests to take on this challenging and complex transaction to ensure the best health care system possible for the people of Maui County," he said.
Ray Hahn, hospital administrator for Maui Health System, said: "Our greatest priority is the health of the community. Maui Health System is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered, affordable health care to the people of Maui and Lanai."
Dr. David Ulin, chief medical director at Maui Health, praised the hospitals' physicians, providers and clinical staff for having "served the community faithfully for many years."
"We look forward to partnering with the larger medical community to advance and lead systems of care that best serve all the residents and visitors of Maui and Lanai," he said. "We are fully committed to preserving these facilities as community hospitals and ensuring that the entire community has access to high-quality care and exceptional service."