How has information technology changed the health care industry in Hawai‘i?
We have only begun to scratch the surface of all the incredible potential the electronic health record offers in the realm of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring. We are beginning to quantify the impact that social, behavioral and supportive services have on improving health outcomes and addressing avoidable costs. We now look forward to more creative uses of technology in facilitating patient interaction with our health center to improve the patient experience both inside and outside the clinical setting.
How does preventive health care factor into your work at WCCHC?
For too long, the healing arts have been primarily pursuing the resolution of acute illness, with insufficient time and resources devoted to the promotion and preservation of health and well-being. My focus throughout my career has always been on prevention and, in particular, combating obesity, one of the leading preventable causes of death. It’s important to address all aspects, not just the physical. We strive to do that through an integrative approach that offers not only primary care but behavioral health, exercise specialists and case management to help the patient get and stay on track. We also help to break down access barriers with our 24-hour emergency department, our KWIC walk-in clinics and free transportation services to and from appointments. Hawai‘i is known as the “health” state. This moniker is difficult to live up to, but our wonderful environment provides the perfect substrate for true health and well-being.
On consumer-driven health care:
The term “consumer driven” means the consumer has discretionary income to make informed choices but can also be couched as “patient centered,” with the connotation that the patient now has a say in their care plan. In a predominantly low-income community, we also think in terms of community empowerment. Oversight of limited resources and accountability are key factors. Our health center provided 150,000 clinical visits to patients at or below the federal poverty level last year. Another unique aspect of WCCHC is that we are governed by a consumer board.
