Waikiki Health

TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

Waikiki Health provides compassionate healing and expert care that result in improved health and qua

Goal One: Address the changing needs of patients as well as the needs of Waikiki and its adjacent communities.

Goal Two: Increase access to medical, behavioral health, tobacco treatment and more through encouraging use of telehealth to remove barriers to care; and expand service days and hours when appropriate.

Goal Three: Focus on Primary and Preventive Medical Care – our core service – while recognizing the importance of shelter, food, employment, and other social determinants of health to overall good health.

Waikiki Health values leadership development opportunities, as they contribute to motivating and growing strong leaders, who in turn strengthen the health center’s ability to fulfill its mission. For example, three staff attended the National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH), presented by the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), June 28-30, 2022 in New Orleans, LA. These staff include Liz Makarra, Director of Emergency Operations and Community Wellness; and two Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTS). Liz handles Waikiki Health’s Tobacco Treatment Program evaluations and reporting. Liz also participated in a 6-month leadership development course, “Leading for Organizational Change,” sponsored by the Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA); and joined in viewing a 3-part virtual series, “The Science of Compassion,” presented by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH). Our team of 3 HIV certified providers also annually attend the Ryan White HIV conference.

External changes have centered on COVID-19. When COVID-19 reached Hawaii early in CY 2020, Waikiki Health focused entirely on meeting the needs of our patients and staff. We retained all employees, hired additional staff, and all our clinics, program sites, homeless shelters, and community-based initiatives were maintained to assist everyone who turned to us. We sanitized all facilities, screened everyone before entry to our service sites, and required masks and social distancing. In July 2020, Waikiki Health began offering free COVID-19 testing at our Ohua Clinic in Waikiki, our main service site. In January 2021, Ohua Clinic partnered with Waikiki Community Center (WCC), our neighbor, utilizing WCC’s meeting hall, to establish a Vaccination Clinic. We also began to offer COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at our Makahiki Medical & Dental Clinic in McCully-Moiliili. Additionally, we expanded our outreach services to include COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable populations Increased telehealth services enabled our patients, particularly those who are mobility-challenged, access to medical, behavioral health, nutrition and/or tobacco treatment services. In CY 2021 Waikiki Health provided 56,980 patient visits (52,219 in-clinic and 4,761 telehealth visits) to 10,050 patients. We expanded hours and introduced new programs. For example, our Youth Outreach Program (YO!), serving homeless youth, began its “Talk Story Clinic,” offering behavioral health appointments with a licensed psychologist. YO! also added a 4th day of Youth Clinic services. In June 2022, we assessed our community’s needs and currently offer appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations at our Ohua and Makahiki clinics. Internally, in response to COVID-19, Waikiki Health allocated fewer or no funds for conferences, travel, training, and events. Our first in-person All Staff Meeting in 2 ½ years was held Friday, May 6, 2022 at a Waikiki hotel, welcoming 193 employees.