Senate and House approves financing for Hilo Medical Center’s Cardiac Center and
Hawai‘i Pacific Oncology Center
Today, the Hawai’i State Legislature agreed and passed HB 2725, the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.
Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hilo) extends his thanks to the Senate Ways and Means and House Finance committees for approving the CIP funding for the Hilo Medical Center’s (HMC) Cardiac Center and Hawai‘i Pacific Oncology Center in the 1st Senatorial District.
A total of $3.5 million will go to the construction and equipment for a second catheterization laboratory for the medical center’s cardiac unit, and $6.5 million for plans, design, equipment and construction for the expansion and improvement of the clinic at the oncology center.
“When I took office in February 2016 after my father’s passing from a heart attack,” said Senator Kahele, “I made it one of my top priorities to bring a cardiac catheterization unit to Hilo. Our community knows how vital specialty health care is on Hawai‘i Island.
“With the initial legislative funding in 2018 and permanent cardiologists now on staff at HMC, funding for a second catheterization lab will allow HMC to meet the demand for these services and ensure the availability of critical lifesaving equipment,” he said. “In addition, the expansion of the oncology center will improve the general oncology clinic, treating cancers and hematology, as well as blood cancers and disorders.
“This critical funding will undoubtedly save lives and keep families together. Mahalo to my colleagues for their support,” said the senator.
HMC’s interventional cardiac program began service on January 1, 2019, with initial funding from the State Legislature in 2018. Since July 1, 2019, interventional cardiac catheterization for the treatment of heart attacks has been made available 24/7 for the residents of East Hawai‘i.
Just in the last year, over 40 heart attacks have been treated in the catheterization lab with an additional 181 patients who were electively treated with stents for heart blockages, preventing future heart attacks.
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