Plans for an Outpatient Care Center in Kailua-Kona are moving forward after $50 million was allocated for the project in the recent state budget, an investment in health care infrastructure that West 91直播 Region of 91直播 Health Systems Corporation CEO Clayton McGhan said is “much-needed” in the area.
“When we see health care delivery in our communities, especially on the west side, there’s a lot of shortages,” he said. “We call them health care deserts, where people have to travel long distances to get care that they need, and this puts it in a place that’s closer to that population center growth, that allows us to build capacity for the needs of our patients.”
The outpatient center is part of a project announced in December 2024 by The Queen’s Health System. The center will be located on land donated by Queen’s to HHSC, just across from a new hospital that is planned in Kona.
McGhan said he thinks the two facilities will complement each other well and provide more preventative care options for nearby residents, many of whom are currently having to leave the island for treatment and follow-up services.
“We recognize it’s not just an acute visit at a hospital, that if we can provide a comprehensive way to address health care needs prior to the hospital, we’ve done the best for our community,” he said. “The outpatient component is huge, because how do we prevent people from having to utilize the hospital services, which are a lot of times at capacity?”
A needs assessment conducted by HHSC in 2024 found that many patients in the area are having to travel for treatment. According to the study, 40% of those seeking inpatient care went off island and 62% of outpatient procedures occurred outside of the region.
“So, that means that a lot of people are having to travel very far to get care that they need close to home,” McGahn said. “So, we want to address that. We want to address wait times, population growth, and we feel that this gives us the opportunity to build and solidify those much-needed services for this West 91直播 community.”
Plans for the outpatient center include a 50,000-square-foot building that will house services including general surgery, orthopedics, women’s health, OBGYN and primary care. The total estimated cost of the project is $100 million.
McGhan said he is hopeful the state will be able to provide the remainder of the funding in coming years.
The center could open in 2030, he said.
Several Big Island lawmakers have championed the project, including state Sen. Dru Kanuha and state Reps. Nicole Lowen and Kirstin Kahaloa.
“In a rural community like West 91直播, access to health care is not guaranteed, it is something we have to intentionally invest in and fight for, ” Kahaloa said in a press release. “This funding for the Outpatient Care Center is a critical step toward ensuring our families can receive timely, high-quality care closer to home. It reflects our commitment to health equity and to meeting our community where they are.”
Email Grace Inez Adams at grace.adams@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
