LIHU‘E — Dr. Monty Downs, retired following 50 years of service to Wilcox Health and the first emergency room doctor at Wilcox Medical Center, said the first emergency room was just an 18-foot-by-18-foot room with a stretcher, not a gurney, in the middle.
Downs, armed with his guitar and harmonica, was describing how far the Emergency Department has come with the two upgrades and updates in the 50 years since he started. Tuesday marked the first time the Emergency Department has been completely renovated and updated since it opened in 1996.
He addressed a collection of state and county leaders and Wilcox Medical Center staff who gathered at a home across the street from the Emergency Department that sported new signage on the outside that only hinted at the scope of work accomplished inside the doors.
The project that came in at $5.1 million features two trauma resuscitation suites and several specialized care rooms. Patients suspected of having infectious diseases will be treated in one of three rooms with negative pressure that prevents air from flowing out into other areas and aids in keeping airborne diseases contained.
Specially designed equipment is readily available at the new pediatric and OB-GYN rooms. All patient care areas are now completely private. Prior to construction starting by Shioi Construction, which did the previous update, some rooms were semi-private spaces separated by curtains.
“We know how devastating a trauma incident can be, especially for our small community,” said Jen Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Health.
“Most of these medical emergencies involve multiple patients who need care simultaneously. We know that investing in these state-of-the-art trauma suites will continue to elevate the emergency care for the people of Kaua‘i,” she said.
Wilcox is Kaua‘i’s only Level III trauma center, and the first in Hawai‘i to be verified by the American College of Surgeons. The two new trauma suites will help improve efficiency of lifesaving care, she continued.
The doors are double the size of the previous rooms, making it easier for health-care workers to quickly move equipment and patients on gurneys into and out of the area. The larger rooms can also accommodate more trauma team members, the latest technology and essential supplies.
The new Emergency Department also includes a dedicated room for behavioral and mental health patients. One of the key parts of this space is its telehealth capabilities that feature advanced video technology that allow Wilcox staff and specialists from across the Hawai‘i Pacific Health system to engage with patients and staff at any time without entering the room.
Funding for the $5.1 million project came from the community, including contributions by Jenn Gross and Peter Stengaard, Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, descendants of the Wilcox family, physicians, staff, members of the Kaua‘i business community and others.
Starting with the renovation work in October 2020, the Wilcox Emergency Department has remained open at all times throughout the construction completion, Chahanovich said, mentioning the remaining floor work should be done by the fall of this year.
Wilcox averages 25,000 emergency visits and 450 trauma activations a year, a testament being the American Medical Response ambulance arriving with its siren activated as it approached the ED and the blessing being held across the road from the ED.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
