After 14 years at the Mohouli Professional Building, Hilo Urgent Care, east-Hawaii’s oldest urgent care clinic, has moved into its new building at 670 Kekuanaoa St. on the road between the airport and Hilo town.
After 14 years at the Mohouli Professional Building, Hilo Urgent Care, east-Hawaii’s oldest urgent care clinic, has moved into its new building at 670 Kekuanaoa St. on the road between the airport and Hilo town.
“It’s across and behind where Big Island Candies is, so it smells like cookies over there a lot, kind of a bonus!” said Brenda Dunne, director of operations. (Aug. 25) was the first day of operations in the building.
“We are very excited about the new move, as we are now a bit more centrally located in a spot where everyone passes by eventually.”
The new facility has new digital X-ray capability on-site as well as a design that is patient-centered in mind.
“We worked closely with our construction consultant Lance Moe on several unique features,” Dunne said. “The large porte cochere in front will enable patients to load in and out of their cars without getting wet. We need more of that in Hilo.
“Also, the nursing stations are positioned so they have direct line of sight to every exam room as well as the doctors’ offices, keeping them the hub of all activities that way.”
Solar panels also will help keep down the electric bill for the air-conditioned building.
Hilo Urgent Care has expanded its capabilities and credentials through the years.
“We are now designated as official Urgent Care clinics, both here in our Hilo clinic and in our Kea’au clinic, by HMSA as well as Kaiser insurance, as they recognize both the quality of our care and its cost-effectiveness, especially compared to going to the ER.” Dunne said. “We also get patients from the Bay Clinics and the East Hawaii IPA when their providers are unavailable.”
The Hilo and in Kea’au clinics are open from 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
In addition to urgent care walk-in patients, both clinics also provide physical examinations for students, athletes and commercial driver’s license. Medical Director Dr. Stephen Warsh is the only Federal Aviation Administration aviation medical examiner in East Hawaii performing FAA exams.
For more information, call 969-3051.