Highlights of Events Past
Women’s Health and Beauty Fair
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Castle Medical Center presented its biennial Women’s Health and Beauty Fair on Sunday, September 20. Hundreds of Hawai‘i women were treated to health screenings, massages, seminars, pampering, fashions, giveaways, and health tips to revitalize the mind, body, and spirit.
Elizabeth Halahuni of Castle’s Environmental Services walks the runway
while wearing fashions by Hawaiian Moon.
Entertainment highlights included hula and live music hosted by celebrity MC Sista Sherry of
Crater 96. Castle physicians presented informational seminars
on
various topics important to women of all ages in the Wellness and Lifestyle Medicine Center.
Professionals from Nordstrom, Sephora Ala Moana, and Bellaviva Windward Mall gave free tips on makeup, fragrance, and getting the right fit for lingerie.
The New Dimensions fashion show in the hospital’s auditorium featured successful patients of Castle’s surgical and medical weight loss programs. Hawaiian Moon provided the fashions, with hair and makeup provided by Paul Brown Salon, Kailua.
Keiki activities included car seat safety checks, t-shirt painting, face painting, and balloons.
Pictured above left is MC Sista Sherry of Crater 96.
On the right, Lisa Dau, certified
car seat technician, uses her expertise.
The crowd enjoys displays and refreshments at Castle’s Women’s Health and Beauty Fair.
Governor Speaks at Castle’s Physician Forum
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
At Castle Medical Center's bi-annual Physician Forum, Governor Lingle shared her vision for the future of Hawai‘i’s health care system with over eighty Castle Medical Center physicians and administrators who serve on its “front lines.”
“The future of health care in Hawai‘i is a top concern for residents, the health care sector, and government,” the Governor said.
On either side of Hawai‘i Governor Linda Lingle above are
Kevin Roberts, Castle’s president and CEO, and
George Nardin, M.D., Castle’s chief of staff.
Governor Lingle discussed initiatives proposed by her administration during the 2009 Legislative Session to improve health care in Hawai‘i through tort reform and other legislative initiatives. The Lingle-Aiona administration has sought medical liability reform in every legislative session since 2006.
“It is frustrating for us and for doctors who have watched efforts to pass reform fail in the Legislature, year after year,” she said, noting that the success of Hawai‘i’s thirteen public hospitals, operated by the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation, is crucial to health care across the state.
“We all agree that major labor and structural reform is needed for the system to survive—and thrive. The State can’t afford to keep shoveling money into our current system, especially given our current economic conditions and restrictions on state budget,” Governor Lingle said.
Governor Lingle also shared innovative ways in which the state is caring for uninsured patients. Hawai‘i is one of five states with the lowest rates of residents without health insurance coverage, with uninsured residents comprising 8.3 percent of the state’s population, compared to 15.5 percent nationally. The State Department of Human Services (DHS) has reduced this number by doubling income eligibility for the QUEST-ACE program in addition to launching QUEST Expanded Access in February 2009.
Although the Governor announced last week that the state will scale back free health insurance benefits to low-income adults as part of her plan to close the state’s $730 million budget shortfall between now and July 31, 2011, the reduction will not affect free insurance to children from low-income families or Medicaid eligibility for adults and children.
“In challenging times, there are opportunities to find innovative ways to do things better; and improve delivery of service in health care and other sectors,” she said.
Brittany Hopfe offers a graceful hula at the opening of the Windward Surgery Center.
Opening of Windward Surgery Center at Castle
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Above are Kris Kroeger, administrator for the Windward Surgery Center, and Brian Medley, CFO of Health Inventures.
The new $5.3-million Windward Surgery Center opened at Castle Medical Center on April 14 with a blessing ceremony officiated by Kahu Kordell Kekoa, chaplain for the Kamehameha Schools.
The 9,000-square-foot Windward Surgery Center, which is housed on two floors in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Medical Plaza and Wellness Center, has two operating rooms, two endoscopy rooms, and waiting and recovery rooms. It will offer same-day surgery, screenings, and other procedures in general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, urology, and podiatry.
The ambulatory center is a partnership between Castle Medical Center and a group of fifteen Windward O‘ahu surgeons. It will be managed by Colorado-based Health Inventures and have a staff of thirty.
“This was the first and most substantial way we could ever partner with our medical staff and take care of our patients,” said Kevin Roberts, Castle president and CEO. “And it will help us grow the more complex surgery service lines in the hospital and provide extra capacity.”
Posing for the camera at the event with Kevin Roberts are gastroenterologists and Windward Surgery Center partners, Naoky Tsai, M.D., left, and Robert Jao, M.D., right.
Opening of Vera Zilber Birth Center,
Governor Lingle Keynote Speaker
Monday, December 15, 2008
After months of construction and renovation, Castle Medical Center celebrated the completion of this six-month project with a special ceremonial blessing of the Vera Zilber Birth Center, held on Monday, December 15. Hawai‘i Governor Linda Lingle was the keynote speaker at the event.
At the opening are philanthropist Joseph Zilber
of Milwaukee with Hawai‘i Governor Linda Lingle.
In the past, Castle Medical Center’s Birth Center averaged 500 births annually, but now averages 70 births per month and more than 800 a year. From 2004 to 2007, the number of births at Castle increased by about 15% per year.
In 2007, Castle Medical Center received generous gifts from the Milwaukee-based Joseph and Vera Zilber Family Foundation and from the late Eleanor Crim, M.D., Kailua obstetrician/gynecologist and former Castle chief of staff, for the purpose of renovating its Birth Center. Castle then took the opportunity to combine these gifts with other funds raised at its “Chip In for Castle” Golf Tournament to use on the project. The project’s total cost was $1.2 million.
For patients, features of the new Vera Zilber Birth Center and Eleanor Crim Nursery include:
- A beautiful new and secure entrance
- Four brand new large rooms, for a total of ten rooms, for mothers to labor, deliver, and recover in, eliminating the need for transfers
- New rooms that accommodate mother and baby and that have a nice wide bed for father to spend the night
- Castle’s signature Jacuzzi tubs, now standard in every room, to keep mothers comfortable during labor
- A private waiting area with TV for expecting families and guests.
And for staff:
- A new secure medication room for the nurses
- A beautiful new nurses station for improved work-flow.
These changes will help to promote the quality, safety, and comfort in our Birth Center for both patients and staff.
Dr. Susan Chapman (left), chair of Castle’s Ob/Gyn/Peds Department
and Tina Johnson (center), director of the Birth Center,
pose at the opening with members of the Birth Center staff.
