On Health Care Tech:
One of the most significant technological developments in the last 10 years has been the advancement of electronic health records. This digital version of a patient’s paper chart allows health care providers to have real-time access to a patient’s medical history. Clinicians in different organizations or locations can share information, which provides for more coordinated and efficient patient care. It is also instrumental in improving health outcomes by providing tools and data to help physicians better monitor, manage and even prevent diseases.
At Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, we are also using the latest technology to enhance patient care and safety. Our new Diamond Head Tower features a medical-grade wireless network and server infrastructure, and integration of smart technologies to support our staff, including smart phones that allow them to call and text each other to relay information about their patients and ID badges with a real-time locating system. All of these tools support our staff in providing the best care possible to our patients.
On Wellness in Health Care:
There is definitely a greater emphasis on prevention and wellness within the health care industry today. At Hawai‘i Pacific Health, we anticipated this shift in the approach to patient care and have taken steps to provide an environment where our patients receive the highest levels of quality care. This includes building care teams that include the patient’s primary care physician and a group of other providers, such as nurses, social workers, dietitians and others. This team works together on screening, monitoring and early-intervention initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of chronic health conditions and improving health outcomes for our patients. The goal is to help our patients be healthier and ultimately create a healthier Hawai‘i, which also happens to now be our company’s mission.
We also recognize that an individual’s health is greatly affected by factors beyond the health care they receive. Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities. Addressing these social determinants of health cannot be accomplished by those within the medical field alone. It will take everyone working together to improve the health of our community. That’s why we are partnering with physicians, health plans and community organizations on various initiatives that we believe will provide greater value to our patients and result in better health outcomes for individuals and families. Working together, we can provide better care at a lower cost, which is better for everyone.
On Prevention
Preventive care is key to reducing risk factors that lead to chronic health conditions and improving an individual’s overall health, as well as reducing health care spending. A greater emphasis is being placed on preventive care nationwide and for good reason. It has been reported that Americans spend over $3 trillion a year on health care but have shorter life expectancies and higher rates of infant mortality and diabetes than other countries worldwide.
Diabetes is especially prevalent in Hawai‘i, where it is estimated that one in every two adults has prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. We are also seeing an increasing number of children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, some as young as two years old. It is an alarming trend and a serious community health issue that we are focusing on at Hawai‘i Pacific Health through community partnerships, educational initiatives and preventive health programs.
At Kapi‘olani, our Sweeter Choice program works with high-risk pregnant women to reduce gestational and pregestational diabetes by helping them develop healthy diet and exercise habits, resulting in a decrease in the number of low birth-weight babies. Over the last few years, the program has supported nearly 1,400 women.
