Q3 2024 Health Care Outlook feat. Hawai‘i Pacific Health
Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH) is partnering with the state Department of Education and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine for a project that has the potential to transform our health care workforce.
Q&A with: Leslie Chun,
MD Chief Executive Officer,
Hawai‘i Pacific Health Medical Group
What are some of your company’s most important (or interesting) projects and plans for 2024?
Hawai‘i Pacific Health (HPH) is partnering with the state Department of Education and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine for a project that has the potential to transform our health care workforce. This spring, we opened the Waipahu High School Academic Health Center to serve the community. This clinic is one of the first of its kind in the nation on a high school campus. As HPH physicians, nurses and staff run the clinic, students will be able to shadow medical professionals and get real life experience in roles ranging from administrative to clinical positions. This clinic will be an invaluable resource in preparing the next generation of homegrown health care providers in Hawai‘i.
What is the most important change or trend impacting your industry in 2024?
Building a workforce continues to be a challenge in industries across the board, including health care. This requires a long-term solution that is also sustainable, which is why we chose to invest in creating the clinic at Waipahu High. It’s an investment worth making. More than 500 students in the school’s Academy of Health & Sciences will be able to experience first-hand how important and rewarding a career in health care truly is while taking care of their own community.
What is the most exciting product or service you will be providing customers in 2024?
One of our priorities has been expanding our reach through HPH’s network of primary, specialty and urgent care clinics to bring care closer to home for our patients. HPH is comprised of our four medical centers — Kapi‘olani, Pali Momi, Straub Benioff and Wilcox — as well as about 70 additional locations statewide. The Waipahu Academic Health Center is our latest addition, and we’re excited that the Waipahu community will have a convenient option for care. We believe in immersing our medical teams in our communities so we can better serve patients when they need us most.
