LIHUE — Hawaii Permanente Group made history on Thursday morning in Lihue. “This is the first (Kaiser Permanente) clinic on Kauai, and I am thrilled to be here,” said Mary Ann Barnes, president of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and
LIHUE — Hawaii Permanente Group made history on Thursday morning in Lihue.
“This is the first (Kaiser Permanente) clinic on Kauai, and I am thrilled to be here,” said Mary Ann Barnes, president of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Hawaii Region. “We feel privileged to open our doors on Kauai for the first time.”
Located at 4366 Kukui Grove Street, taking up most of the ground floor of the Kukui Grove Health Center, the KP Lihue Clinic offers primary care for adults and children in a state-of-the-art clinic setting while telehealth technology will enable Kaiser (health plan) members to consult virtually with specialty care providers on Oahu.
“The clinic has a laboratory on site,” Barnes said. “Within its 4,100 square feet, it also has a pharmacy with Erin Wada, a Kauai girl, leading the team. Kaiser has been providing total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, and with the opening of the Lihue Clinic is set up for healthy care, and the healthy delivery of services to the people of Kauai. The long-awaited opening of the Lihue Clinic demonstrates Kaiser’s commitment to offering high-quality health care that is convenient, affordable, and accessible to all of our members.”
Dr. Bridget Collins will be joining Medeiros as the two primary-care providers at the Lihue Clinic.
“We appreciate the independent affiliated physicians on Kauai, including Dr. Paul Esaki and Dr. Harold Netzer and many more, who have taken care of our members for many years,” said Dr. Geoffrey Sewell, president and executive medical director of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. “We are also excited about our new Lihue Clinic which will expand access and allow our members to receive care in ways that are most convenient to them.”
Jade Battad of Ke Akua Mana Church officiated over the traditional Hawaiian blessing which was enveloped by a canopy of music provided by Mike Keale and hula by Kela Cummings enveloping the crowd of more than 200 people.
“Health and wellness are a big part of my Holoholo 2020 vision,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “For Kaiser to come forward, we are doing it. We have an opportunity to really care for the people.”
Currently, there are 2,400 Kaiser Permanente members on Kauai, and existing Kaiser contracts with Kauai physicians will continue.
The Lihue Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
