News

Clinic features two state-of-the-art medical-grade HBO chambers, two of only five in Hawaii

Wailuku, Hawaii (February 2, 2023) – Maui Health is excited to announce the opening of Maui Memorial Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy, an outpatient facility offering a comprehensive approach for patients with non-healing wounds, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO).

The clinic, which has been open for patient consultations since its soft opening in mid-November 2022, celebrated its official opening this week on Tuesday, January 31, with a reception and ribbon cutting ceremony. The reception was also held to honor and thank the leaders of Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) for their generous donation of $1 million dollars in support of this critical service for the Maui community and neighboring islands.

“We are incredibly grateful to HMSA for their commitment to Maui County, and to ensuring we have these critical services available for our community,” said Mike Rembis, Maui Health CEO. “With our new state-of-the-art equipment and advanced wound care, patients no longer need to travel off island for treatment, avoiding unnecessary travel time and costs, and stay close to home – near their loved ones, which is so important for healing.”

“The people of Maui will greatly benefit from this new facility, which is aligned with HMSA's purpose to improve the lives of our members and the health of Hawaii,” said HMSA President and CEO Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “This much-needed clinic will solve life-altering problems and give patients the quality care they deserve, in an affordable outpatient setting.”

Also in attendance was Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr., who toured the facility with Maui Health leadership and clinic team members and learned more about the clinic’s two state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chambers, which are two of only five medical-grade HBO chambers in the entire state of Hawaii.

"The facility, specialized state-of-the-art equipment, and exceptional staff was impressive to see. Our community will greatly benefit from the clinic and its service. Because of what is now available, patients can receive care with their loved ones nearby, an important factor in helping people heal better and commit to the comprehensive service, and the medical care they are providing can ultimately save lives,” said Mayor Bissen.

Maui Memorial Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy provides a comprehensive approach to treating patients with non-healing wounds. The highly skilled team features physicians, nurses, and technicians with advanced training in wound care and HBO, which promotes healing by increasing the level of oxygen in the tissue and improving the healing efficiency of the white blood cells. HBO therapy is administered in a hyperbaric chamber that delivers 100 percent oxygen with increased atmospheric pressure, stimulating the entire body’s natural healing responses. Patients who are prescribed HBO typically require treatment five days a week for two-hour sessions. Patients have complete privacy in comfortable, individual chambers equipped with televisions and speakers for entertainment. The chambers also include a two-way phone system for patients to communicate with the HBO technician, who supervises the patient from outside the chamber for the entire duration of the treatment.

Especially beneficial for diabetic patients with nonhealing ulcers, as well as those with arterial ulcers and other types of wounds that fail to respond to conservative therapy, HBO is also a treatment for conditions without open wounds, such as osteomyelitis, radionecrosis and osteoradionecrosis.

The center’s patients are examined by a multidisciplinary staff trained in wound care and evaluated for all possible physical conditions, such as diabetes, that could interfere with proper healing. The care team follows evidence-based clinical pathways to determine why wounds are not healing and then develops individual treatment plans, utilizing the most effective technologies available to provide maximum healing and relief.

“Our dedicated clinical staff understands the totality of the patient from a perspective of wound healing,” said Wound Care Program Director Jessica Acop, RN. “We are working to treat not only the wound, but the underlying cause of the wound, and the patient as a whole.”

Maui Memorial Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Referring physicians and patients may call the clinic directly to schedule a consultation. For more information about wound care or to schedule an appointment, call 808-986-4500 or visit mauihealth.org/woundcare.

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About Maui HealthMaui Health, aka Maui Health System, community hospitals and associated clinics affiliated with Kaiser Permanente, includes Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, Lanai Community Hospital, and associated clinics, and serves the people of Maui and Lanai. The facilities under Maui Health employ more than 1,600 Maui County residents, partner with over 460 hospital-based physicians, clinicians, and community-based primary and specialty physicians, and are open to all patients regardless of health insurance coverage. Maui Health is committed to delivering high quality, affordable, patient-centered health care and improving the health of the community. Maui Health is supported by Kaiser Permanente’s industry-leading technology systems, evidence-based medicine, and nationally recognized care quality. For more information, visit mauihealth.org.

Press photos (high resolution images and b-roll available upon request):

1. L to R: Maui Health CEO Mike Rembis, Maui County Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr., HMSA President and CEO Mark Mugiishi, M.D., HMSA Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration Matthew Reeves, D.O., and HMSA Assistant Vice President of Provider Contracting and Initiatives Jay Fujimoto.
2. Mayor Bissen learns about the HBO chambers from MMMC Director of Outpatient Clinics Joel Krause.
3. L to R: Ribbon cutting ceremony with Maui Health Board of Director members Tony Takitani, Mary Hew, Clay Sutherland, Tamar Goodfellow; Maui Health CEO Mike Rembis; HMSA President and CEO Mark Mugiishi, M.D., HMSA Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration Matthew Reeves, D.O.; Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr.; HMSA Assistant Vice President of Provider Contracting and Initiatives Jay Fujimoto
4. Wound Care Clinic Program Director Jessica Acop, RN, shares information about Maui’s only medical grade state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chambers at MMMC Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy.