MEDIA RELEASE

WHAT NEW GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT-RETAIN PHYSICIANS MEANS TO NORTH HAWAI’I ADDED TO MAY 7 WAIMEA TOWN MEETING

The shocking number of Hawai’i Island residents who are unable to find a doctor — both for general care and specialty needs — played a significant role in prompting former Mayor Harry Kim to declare a medical state of emergency in Hawai’i County over a year ago…and the shortage of physicians is only expected to get worse.

A group of Hawai’i Island residents have decided to do something more than wring their hands. They have launched an island-wide fundraising “Campaign to Bring Doctors to Hawai’i.” Officially called “Hawai’i Island Family Medicine,” they envision a multi-disciplinary 3-year rural residency program and have already raised over $100,000 from community residents, the Hawai’i County Council, local businesses and also HMSA.

The idea behind the campaign is founded on research that concludes doctors are highly likely to end up practicing medicine where they are trained.

The program is being facilitated by Hilo Medical Center Foundation, which is the 501c3 not-for-profit that successfully conducted the million-million campaign to dramatically improve Hilo’s Emergency Department and also helped underwrite the first and only veterans’ home in Hawai’i – the recently opened Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo.

The new rural residency program is already underway and the first staff member hired. But they have a long way to go to being able to train six residents a year. In addition to training doctors on the Big Island, the program also envisions training students from UH-Hilo’s Nursing School, UH-Hilo’s College of Pharmacy and nurse practitioners from UH-Manoa.

Because this program will benefit the entire island, community members attending this Thursday’s Waimea Community Association Town Meeting at 5:15 p.m. at Parker School Theatre will be briefed about the program which has former Mayor Kim so excited that he has recently taken to signwaving along the edge of the road to garner grassroots community support.

Lori Rogers with Hilo Medical Center Foundation, and Elena Cabatu with Hilo Medical Center will brief the Waimea community on the campaign and invite support during the WCA Town Meeting.

Also on the agenda will be introduction of new leadership at both historic Parker Ranch and North Hawai’i Community Hospital.

As always, there is no charge to attend WCA Town Meetings but a $12 annual individual membership is urged to support the organization’s community activities.

Though no charge, everyone attending is urged to bring a cash or check donation or non-perishable food items to contribute to Waimea food pantries. Cash or checks are tax deductible and will be used by the local food pantry to provide families in urgent need with a $10 gift certificate to enable the purchase fresh milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and other essentials at local grocery stores.

For information about the town meeting, call Bill Sanborn (895-1122).