By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– The Queen’s Health Systems (Queen’s), corporate parent of The Queen’s Medical Center, announced today that it has officially entered into an agreement to acquire Island Urgent Care.
The new entity, Queen’s Island Urgent Care, is expected to open in January 2020. In the meantime, Island Urgent Care clinics will remain open at all locations.
Under the agreement, Queen’s will acquire four Island Urgent Care walk-in clinics in Kapahulu, Pearl Kai, Kaka`ako and Hawaii Kai.
Island Urgent Care employs 14 physicians, physicians’ assistants and 39 support staff. Both Queen’s and Island Urgent Care expect the transition to occur without any disruption of service to their patients. The new entity will continue to provide the same hours and services in the tradition and history of Island Urgent Care, but with the added resources of Queen’s.
“Ambulatory health care is a growing market, and consumers are actively choosing venues like Island Urgent Care to provide care for their families at a growing rate,” said Jason Chang, Queen’s EVP & Chief Operating Officer. “Emergency department volumes for all Queen’s hospitals are growing above both state and national forecasts due to shortages of primary care physicians and limited access of patients to primary care. This acquisition will allow Queen’s another opportunity to provide access to urgent and unscheduled care for our community.”
Queen’s is working with Island Urgent Care to assess and address its immediate needs.Both organizations have signed confidentiality agreements.
Island Urgent Care medical providers have training and experience in all branches of medicine including adult, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics and many others. Each clinic has its own dedicated x-ray suite. They provide care for many minor emergencies including: cough/cold, asthma, flu, sprains/strains, stitches, fractures, allergic reactions, dehydration, migraine, school/sports & pre-employment physicals, and many more. Each of their 4 locations are open 7 days a week starting at 8am with extended hours.
“We are very pleased to become a part of The Queen’s Health Systems,” said Robert Ruggieri, M.D. FACEP, President of Island Urgent Care. “Each of our locations will continue to be staffed with qualified physicians and medical providers who are eager to offer our patients the urgent medical care that they require. This affiliation with Queen’s will dramatically improve our ability to treat a wide variety of illnesses and injury.”
Founded in 2006 by Dr. Robert Ruggieri, a graduate of UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, Island Urgent Care is a pioneer in offering walk-in medical care at affordable prices to patients looking for urgent care without the need to make an appointment or a visit to the ER.
Island Urgent Care celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016.
Furthersubstance and status of the agreement are confidential.