There are major differences between the proposed critical access hospital and skilled nursing facility in Lahaina and the denied Malulani hospital in Kihei. The biggest difference is size.
The West Maui Improvement Foundation's developer is proposing a 25-bed acute-care hospital and a 40-bed long-term nursing facility for a 14-acre site already acquired. The 25-bed size and location meet the criteria for federal funding designed to encourage small, rural hospitals. Malulani would have competed with Maui Memorial Medical Center in size and services.
The West Maui facility will act more as a satellite facility, and it is being supported by Maui Memorial CEO Wesley Lo, although he wants to know more about how the facility would interact with his hospital, mostly in terms of direct medical cooperation. Lo opposed Malulani.
Malulani failed the archaic certificate of need test, involving three public hearings by three different panels and final approval from the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Only one of the Malulani hearings was held on Maui. This time, all three of the West Maui hearings were scheduled to be held on the island.
Brian Hoyle, president of Newport Hospital Corp., told The Maui News months ago he had developed similar small hospitals on the Mainland. He noted the SHPDA staff had been cooperative while requesting revisions of the application, which amounted to a comprehensive business plan that considers how it would fit in with all of Maui's health facilities.
Having all three hearings on the island is a definite plus, allowing more direct Maui input. The CON process should be done away with, but until it is, it's a game that must be played. Hoyle seems more than able to do so. The West Maui hospital and care facility has the land, county zoning, a developer and is needed. If it is denied a certificate of need, it will be bureaucratic travesty.
Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
