The chief of the Hawaii Fire Department and at least two department staff flew to the state Capitol this week to testify in favor of a bill that would add an extra ambulance in Puna.
The chief of the Hawaii Fire Department and at least two department staff flew to the state Capitol this week to testify in favor of a bill that would add an extra ambulance in Puna.
The advanced life-support ambulance, equipment and personnel would cost $1.2 million to set up at the Pahoa fire station, which currently has three ambulances.
Hilo Medical Center also sent testimony favoring the addition of the ambulance.
The hospital said it treated 47,000 emergency room patients in 2016. Nearly 2 out of every 3 — 28,000 patients — were from Puna.
CEO Dan Brinkman said increasing medical services to the Puna District is a top priority for the Hawaii Health Care Systems Corp. East Hawaii Regional Board of Directors, which governs the hospital. The ambulance is part of that priority, he said.
“It’s a request that will truly benefit people and, oftentimes, when they’re in their greatest need,” Brinkman told the Tribune-Herald.
According to Senate Bill 820, Puna is the fastest-growing district in the state with a population of 45,000. That number is expected to reach 75,000 within 15 years.
The average ambulance call takes two hours, round trip, with 476 emergency medical incidents per month in the district.
The state Department of Health’s goal for Puna ambulance response times is 20 minutes. But it failed to hit that goal 16 to 39 percent of the time during the past seven years.
“Adding an additional ambulance unit and personnel resources to this district would improve Hawaii County response times,” the department’s testimony says. “Should the Legislature decide to increase services to the Puna area, the department recommends the service hours be 24/7 to provide added flexibility to EMS personnel in emergency response.”
Proposed legislation suggests operating the ambulance between peak hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
If the Legislature decides to approve the 24/7 option, the cost would be $1.5 million, the state Department of Health reported.
Companion House Bill 837 passed first reading and is scheduled to be heard Thursday morning by the Health Committee. Senate Bill 820 passed first reading and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.