Grand opening of Hawaii Island Medical Center

October 26, 2009 - Hilo, Hawaii
VIDEO by Tim O Bryan

The Hawaii Island Medical Center celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, ushering in a first of its kind medical clinic and training center for health professionals.

The moment was the official culmination of "several years of effort by island residents and federal, state, and local governments to address a critical shortage in health professionals available to the Big Island’s citizens", according to a media release.

The clinic is staffed by a unique combination of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. Faculty from various University of Hawaii institutions (Manoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine, Manoa's School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Hilo Baccalaureate Nursing Program, and the Hilo College of Pharmacy) are participating.

The clinic will serve patients in the community, while also training future medical professionals to serve in a rural health setting.

The clinic reports they are already seeing about 40 patients a day.

The Hawaii Island Family Health Center is located at 45 Mohouli Street in Hilo. The clinic features nine examination rooms in 4,350 square feet of medical clinic and education space. The center’s telephone number is (808) 769-6100.