Kealakehe Construction Underway PCHCH Receives Kona

West Hawaii Community Health Center
75-5751 Kuakini Highway, Suite 203
Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740
Weaving a Lauhala of Wellness
Fall 2014
Non-Profit.Org
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Permit #166
Kailua-Kona, HI
Health Service Locations:
West Hawaii Community Health Center—Kailua-Kona
75-5751 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 104
Phone: 808-326-5629
Kealakehe Construction Underway
West Hawaii Community Health Center—Kealakekua
Selwyn Plaza, 81-6627 Mamalahoa Hwy
Phone: 808-323-8005
After eight long years of planning, WHCHC’s vision of providing a medical and dental facility on Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands near the Villages of La’ i ‘Opua in the Kealakehe ahupua’a, is finally becoming a reality.
West Hawaii Community Health Center—Kealakekua
Adult & Family Health
Kealakeua Business Plaza, 81-980 Halekii St., Ste 107
Phone: 808-324-0703
With $5 million in federal HRSA funds, $3.8 million from New Market Tax Credits, as well as funding from foundations
and individuals, WHCHC broke ground on a new building in Kealakehe in December of 2013. Since then, construction
has continued at a steady pace with civil work starting in early February 2014 and vertical construction in May, 2014.
Construction is scheduled to be complete in May of 2015 with patient services beginning in mid-summer, 2015.
West Hawaii Community Health Center—Waikoloa
Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center
68-1845 Waikoloa Road, Suite 207
Phone: 808-769-5160
Once completed, Phase 1 of this construction project will be 10,500 sq. ft. and include 7 exam rooms, a procedure room, 8
dental operatories and patient service areas. In addition, an attached 4,000 sq. ft. pavilion will be used for educational and
community activities and events.
West Hawaii Community Health Center Dental Van
74-5593 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, stationed at Hope Services
Phone: 808-329-0465
Adult emergency dental services only.
PCHCH Receives Kona-Kohala Chamber Award
The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce recognized WHCHCs’ Patient
Centered Health Care Home (PCHCH) program with the Pualu
Topping Off
Community Service and Business Leadership Award, for Community
On October 15th, 2014, West Hawaii Community Health
Education, at their annual membership meeting on June, 27th, 2014.
Center (WHCHC) held a “Topping Off” ceremony, celebrating
PCHCH was recognized for it’s educational work in teaching people
the completion of the building’s structure. Approximately 45
with long-term health problems how to manage their condition, and the
HHB construction workers ceremoniously signed the beam,
positive impact the result of this education has on the community.
followed by the WHCHC Board of Directors and staff, as well
as Bo Kahui of La’ i ‘Opua 2020. During the brief ceremony
Chamber Executive Director , Vivian Landrum ,and Chamber Board
President, Tracey Fosso, present WHCHC Board President ,Nellie
Medeiros ,with award.
The PCHCH program was acknowledged for benefiting the community
Richard Taaffe, WHCHC CEO, explained “By signing the beam
by showing creativity and uniqueness in building personal relationships
all of us are forever linked and part of the WHCHC dream.”
between team members and patients which results in patients learning,
Board of Director members Joan Gannon and Mike Matsukawa, joined Armin
Guenther (Project Manager), in signing ceiling beams of the new Kealakehe
building during ‘Topping Off’ ceremony.
in a very positive and supported way, how to self-manage their health
care.
westhawaichc.org
westhawaichc.org
Aloha Friends,
As West Hawaii Community Health Center nears the completion of its 9th year in
providing the highest quality of care and compassion to the people living in West
Hawaii, we would like to express our thanks to each of our donors, volunteers,
patients and staff members for your continued support of our mission “to care for
those who come through our doors”.
We have come a long way since West Hawaii Community Health Center opened
in January 2005, when we served 905 patients and recorded 2,200 patient visits all
with a staff of 5. With the opening in September 2014 of our new Adult & Family
Health facility in Kealakekua the number of health care facilities increased to 5 and
the number of patients we expect to serve by the end of the year, with our staff of
108, is over 13,000 and 47,000 patient visits. This is a huge increase since 2005 and
reflects the tremendous need for accessible and affordable health care in our
community.
Leading West Hawaii Community Health Center is a 15-member Board of
Directors, a diverse group of committed volunteers dedicated to the well-being of
WHCHC and to all the people who benefit from our services. We would like to
extend a warm welcome to new board members: Earl Betts, JoAnn Freed, and
Eugene Yap who all joined the board in 2014. We look forward to their service and
contributions of time and expertise.
As we continue our journey to make health care accessible to all, we are incredibly
thankful to all of our supporters and partners for all that they do: from Board of
Directors for their tireless dedication to our communities, our hundreds of
generous donors, and our dedicated and caring staff. We are thankful that we can
count on everyone’s continued support.
NEW Kealakekua Adult &
Family Health Now Open
To address the increased need for adult and family medical services in South Kona, West
Hawaii Community Health Center has a new family medical office in the Kealekekua
Business Plaza, on Halekii Street.
A traditional Hawaiian blessing was held
at the end of September with Kahu Danny
Akaka and Anna Akaka officiating, as
WHCHC board members, providers and
staff gathered to celebrate the opening of
West Hawaii Community Health Center’s
5th service location.
Richard Taaffe, CEO of West Hawaii
Community Health Center encapsulated
the evening with remarks that reminded
all who were in attendance of the
organization’s commitment to breaking
down barriers to health care as well as
increase quality and access for all.
NATIONAL
RECOGNITION
ACHIEVED
Kahu Danny Akaka, Chris Russell (Medical Director), and Nellie
Medeiros (Board Chair) participate in the blessing of the new Kealakekua Health Center.
Dr. Matsuo and Dr. San Tun are the full time providers at the new WHCHC Kealakekua
Adult & Family Health facility. Ross Hardwick, Physician Assistant, also provides
medical services at the center two days a week. This new medical office is located at
81-980 Halekii Street, just below the Kealakekua Post Office.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Call 808-324-0703 to schedule an appointment, or for further information.
Sincerely,
Nellie Medeiros, Board Chair
Need a special gift for the holidays? Do you have guests that will be visiting the Big
Island February 8th or March 1st of 2015? West Hawaii Community Health Center is
holding its annual fundraising Whale Watching Tours, and NOW is the perfect time to
purchase tickets for holiday giving.
Mahalo
Over 5,000 toothbrushes were collected during the National Health Center Week Tooth Brush Drive, sponsored by
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union branches on behalf of West Hawaii Community Center. Tooth brushes
will be distributed through out the year as part of WHCHC’s outreach and early childhood education programs.
GIVING TO
WHCHC IS
EASY!
A Whale of a Good Time
DONATE ONLINE AT:
www.westhawaiichc.org
MAIL US AT:
75-5751 Kuakini Hwy, Ste. 203
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Both Whale Watching Tours feature Na Hoku Hanohano award winning artist, John
Keawe, on slack key guitar, lunch & beverages, all in the comfort aboard the Ocean
Sports sailing vessel.
Sunday, February 8 and March 1, 2015
Sign-in: 12:00 pm Sail: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
For tickets or more informationCall: Terri (808) 329-0400
Email: WestHawaiiHealth@yahoo.com.
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO WEST HAWAII COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
westhawaichc.org
westhawaichc.org
West Hawaii Community Health
Center (WHCHC) received Level
III recognition from the National
Committee for Quality Assurance
(NCQA) for its Patient Centered
Health Care Home for three of its
primary care sites: Kailua-Kona,
Kealakekua and Waikoloa.
WHCHC is one of two health
centers in Hawaii to have
received this highest acknowledgement and is very proud. This
recognition is presented to health
centers that demonstrate patientcentered processes focused on
highly coordinated care, longterm relationships between
patients and their Primary Care
Providers.
“This is a great accomplishment
for WHCHC,” said Richard
Taaffe, WHCHC CEO. “Our Patient Centered Health Care team
is very proud of this national
recognition.”
Meet the New WHCHC Providers
Laura Ankrum, D.O. was born in Flint,
Michigan and graduated from Des Moines
University Osteopathic Medical Center with a
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Ankrum
is a competitive marathon runner, former U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier in 2000,
and a Sunday school teacher. Dr. Ankrum is
serving at the WHCHC -Kailua Kona clinic.
Leina’ala Crawford, M.D. was born and raised on
Oahu and graduated from medical school at
Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha,
Nebraska. In her spare time, Dr. Crawford enjoys
paddle boarding, video gaming, running
marathons, and creating medical anatomy
drawings and acrylic paintings. Dr. Crawford is
serving at the WHCHC -Waikoloa clinic.
Jessica Craig, M.D. was born in Laos and
immigrated to the United States as a teenager.
Dr. Craig received her M.D. from Ross University
School of Medicine in Dominica, British West
Indies. Dr. Craig is fluent in Laotian and Thai
languages. She enjoys cooking, swimming and
spending time with her family and her two dogs.
Dr. Craig is serving at the WHCHC - Kailua Kona
clinic.
William (Ross) Hardwick, PA-C was born
in Clovis, New Mexico and received his
Master of Medical Science, Physician
Assistant Studies degree from Midwestern
University in Glendale, Arizona. In his spare
time Ross enjoys hiking, snorkeling, kayaking,
river running, and meditation. Ross serves at
both the new WHCHC - Kealakekua and the
Kailua Kona clinics.
Brita Martiny, Ph.D. was born in Missouri,
and received her Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology
from the United States International
University in San Diego. Dr. Martiny enjoys
birding and recording Hawaiian
honeycreepers, hiking with her husband and
enjoying the beauty of Hawaiian culture,
natural history, ecology and island education.
Dr. Martiny is serving at the WHCHC -Kailua
Kona clinic.
Kameren Owens, APRN was born in California,
and received her Masters of Science in Nursing at the
University of California, San Francisco. In her spare
time Kameren enjoys reading and dancing as well as
participating in outdoor activities such as hiking,
snorkeling and snowboarding with her family.
Kameren is serving at the WHCHC-Kailua Kona
clinic.
Cindy Ann Rooney, FNP-BC was born in San Diego,
California and received her doctorate of Nurse
Practitioner from Robert Morris University, in
Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Rooney specializes in family
practice with a focus in pain management. In her spare
time Dr. Rooney enjoys beach activities, gardening,
hiking and body surfing. Dr. Rooney is serving at the
WHCHC-Kailua Kona clinic.