Kaiser Permanente Hawaii unveiled the six-story Mauka Tower at its Moanalua Medical Center. From the left: Kaiser Permanente members Don Hoy and Claire Loo-Hoy; Dr. Keith Ogasawara, Associate Medical Director Professional Chief of Staff; Linda Puu, Chief Nursing Officer; Kimberly O’Quinn, Kathy Menor, Dr. Lois Chiu Kaiser Permanente staff; Dr. Mark Santi, Physician Leader for the Mauka Tower renovation and Associate Medical Director of Surgical Specialties; Peter Makowski, Hospital Administrator; and Janet Liang, President of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– Kaiser Permanente Hawaii unveiled the six-story Mauka Tower at its Moanalua Medical Center after an extensive renovation, which increased the number of patient rooms while creating a healing environment and making the hospital more conducive to accommodating families and visitors. The $140 million Mauka Tower renovation completes a multi-phase expansion project at Moanalua Medical Center; the first phase was completed in April 2008 with the addition of a new six-story wing.
“The new Mauka Tower expansion and renovation brings cutting edge technology and a tranquil, healing environment to our patients recovering from serious health events,” said Janet Liang, President of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. “Privacy, natural light, fresh air, and the ability to make simple decisions for themselves, like ordering room service, improve the patient’s well-being and promote healing.”
The Mauka Tower project encompasses approximately 160,000 square feet, which added 42 additional patient beds, including 18 new private rooms in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that are built to accommodate large families, all new state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment, and multiple safety equipment additions and upgrades. A key design feature is private patient rooms and special family spaces that allow loved ones to remain close by, contributing to patients’ recovery and overall health. The renovation carries over design elements used in the first phase of the overall renovation of Moanalua Medical Center, which are conducive to a patient’s recovery, including warmer furnishings and artwork, soft colors, and use of natural light wherever possible. The project also uses green technology to lessen environmental impacts through recycling and sustainable architecture and landscaping.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii President Janet Liang tours Council Member Joey Manahan through the newly renovated Mauka Tower at Moanalua Medical Center
“We understand that hospitals can be daunting for both patients and their loved ones,” said Dr. Mark Santi, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group physician leader for the renovation and Associate Medical Director of Surgical Specialties. “With the renovation of our Mauka Tower, we can provide an enhanced setting that meets our standards for delivering high quality, safe care and is also a comfortable, healing environment sensitive to our patients’ recovery and the incredible support they receive from their families and friends.”
Kaiser Permanente’s Kimberly O’Quinn (on left) shares some of the Mauka Tower’s new features with Council Member Carol Fukunaga.
Mauka Tower renovation includes:
Patient Care Features
• Additional 42 patient beds, for a total of 277 beds at Moanalua Medical Center
• 80 new private patient rooms including:
• 28 new Intensive Care patient rooms
• 18 new private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit rooms
• 34 private patient rooms
• State-of-the-art patient lift systems in patient rooms to ensure safety for both patients and staff
• Room service menu featuring healthy, local favorites available for order and delivery to patients daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Natural light and sweeping views of Moanalua Valley and Diamond Head
• Soft, warm colors and design themes by floor: Palm (2), Bamboo (3), Water (4), Kukui (5), and Orchid (6)
• Artwork by local artists such as Arna Johnson, Peggy Krantz and Meala Bishop, with pieces selected for healing and respect for culture and diversity
Family-Centered Features
• Renovated and refurbished visitor lounges with privacy workstations on every patient-care floor
• New meditation room for peaceful reflection and healing
• Outdoor garden lanai with plants and shaded sitting areas
General Upgrades
• Re-vamped wayfinding system for navigating the facility
• Free wireless internet available throughout the building
“Green” Features
• White granulated cap sheet on the roof and insulated/glazed windows and window shades reduce heat gain and lower energy consumption
• Low volatile organic compounds paint that is better for the environment
• Use of no less than 25 percent recycled steel
• Rubber flooring made from the rubber plat, a renewable resource, reduces staff fatigue and requires less maintenance
The renovation features design elements conducive to a patient’s recovery, including soft colors, warmer furnishings and artwork, and use of natural light wherever possible. The project also uses green technology to lessen environmental impacts through recycling and sustainable architecture and landscaping.
Architect on the renovation project was Lionakis, with Swinerton Builders as the contractor.
Kaiser Permanente is the highest ranked health plan in the state, among the top 20 nationally* and the only 5-star Medicare plan in Hawaii. It continues to be a model for innovative health care by leveraging new technology and best practices, and continually working to provide better service and access.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, the prevention of illness and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information, become a fan of good health at Facebook.com/KPHawaii or follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.
*NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.