Kona Community Hospital has donated its mobile medical van to the Puna Community Medical Center to assist those affected by the June 27 lava flow.
Kona Community Hospital has donated its mobile medical van to the Puna Community Medical Center to assist those affected by the June 27 lava flow.
The hospital transferred ownership of the van to the community medical center on Tuesday. The mobile medical van was launched in 2012, with Kona Community Hospital contributing medical expertise and staff to coordinate services. Funding has been provided by HMSA. Since its launch, the van has provided services to the Pahala and Ocean View communities.
The contract to operate the medical van was scheduled to end on Dec. 31, and was not going to be renewed. In light of the rapidly changing situation in Puna caused by the lava flow, Kona Community Hospital officials offered to donate the medical van to the Puna Community.
“As the lava flow has begun to move closer to Pahoa, we decided to accelerate the donation timeframe to take place this week. We’re very pleased that the van is going to the late Representative (Bob) Herkes’ district,” Pat Kalua, KCH Chief Nurse Executive, said in a prepared statement.
Nurse Practitioner Jackie Murray has provided clinical services on the medical van for two years. On Tuesday, she and Allen DeAguiar from the KCH emergency department drove the van to the Civil Defense Center in Puna as the lava continued to move toward Pahoa.
“I watched Representative Bob Herkes’ efforts to secure this van, and I understand how he envisioned it being used. I can say with assurance that it will be used in a fashion by PCMC that is entirely consistent with the original intent,” Dan Domizio, PCMC Clinical Programs, said in the prepared statement.