HUI POHALA

HUI POHALA WAS AWARDED 3.6 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MED-QUEST DIVISION TO EXPAND PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY. HONOLULU, HAWAII WHEN SOMEONE LEARNS THAT THEY HAVE A SERIOUS ILLNESS, IT CAN BE DEVASTATING. IT IS EVEN MORE DISTRESSING IF FINDING ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE CARE IS AN ISSUE. EVEN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS MAY FACE CHALLENGES IN IDENTIFYING AND REFERRING PATIENTS TO SPECIALISTS WHO CAN ALLEVIATE THE SEVERITY OF THEIR SYMPTOMS. HUI POHALA WAS AWARDED 3.6 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS), MED-QUEST DIVISION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE HUI POHALA WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO TACKLE THOSE CHALLENGES AND MAKE PALLIATIVE CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE GRANT IS COMPOSED OF BOTH STATE, AND FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING TRAINING RESOURCES AND EQUIPPING A WIDER AUDIENCE WITH ESSENTIAL TOOLS AIMED AT ENHANCING COMPREHENSION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PALLIATIVE CARE, SAID JUDY MOHR PETERSON, MED-QUEST ADMINISTRATOR. WITH A LONGSTANDING DEDICATION TO THIS FIELD, WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH HUI POHALA IN ADVANCING THIS CRITICAL INITIATIVE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT DHS/MED-QUEST HAS GIVEN US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THIS GAME-CHANGING INITIATIVE, SAID RAE SEITZ, MD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HUI POHALA, WHO HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE SERVING IN BOTH PROVIDER AND PAYER (HEALTH INSURANCE) ROLES WITH HMSA AND KAISER PERMANENTE HAWAII. PALLIATIVE CARE HELPS PATIENTS BETTER COPE WITH A SERIOUS ILLNESS AND GREATLY IMPROVES THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES, DR. SEITZ SAID. PALLIATIVE CARE CURRENTLY IS UNDER-UTILIZED AND NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD. HUI POHALA WANTS TO CHANGE THIS BY EQUIPPING PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS SO PATIENTS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS CAN EASILY ACCESS PALLIATIVE CARE. HUI POHALA WILL BE WORKING ON A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PALLIATIVE CARE OUTSIDE OF HOSPITALS AND DOCUMENT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS CARE WITH QUALITY METRICS SO PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES SAFELY AND APPROPRIATELY. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE DEVELOPING RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MANAGE CARE AT HOME AND TRAINING TO UPSKILL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS TIMELY, APPROPRIATE CARE. TRAINING, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS CARING FOR THOSE WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES. HUI POHALA IS SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PILOT PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN NURSES FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED PALLIATIVE CARE AND WILL LEAD THE CREATION OF A CENTRALIZED RESOURCE HUB FOR INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND RESOURCES REGARDING PALLIATIVE CARE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, PATIENTS, AND CAREGIVERS IN HAWAII AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. HUI POHALA IS CONTINUING TO DEEPEN THE COMMUNITYS UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERSISTENT GAPS AND CHALLENGES THAT PREVENT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND CAREGIVERS FROM PROVIDING THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ACTIVATING RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST VALUE. CLINICIANS AND OTHERS ON THE FRONTLINES OF PATIENT CARE READILY SEE THE WEAK LINKS IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. WERE EXCITED TO WORK ON MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS TO FILL THE GAPS, DR. SEITZ SAID. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TRAINING FOR DOCTORS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, REGISTERED NURSES, AND OTHERS, WERE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND BELIEVE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, HEALTHCARE NAVIGATORS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, HOME HEALTH AGENCIES, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, AND OTHERS ARE KEY TO REACHING MORE HAWAII FAMILIES AND MAKING PALLIATIVE CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE.