A federal medical team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began providing temporary medical surge support Thursday at the Queen’s Medical Center at Hale Pulama Mau and the Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu. The 21 personnel, primarily nurses, from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) join 15 medical professionals from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to help the two hospitals safely care for patients with COVID-19. The HHS team will be deployed for as long as 14 days.

Dr. Jill Hoggard Green said in a meeting of the State House Select Committee on COVID-19 on August 31 that when the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, was on O’ahu the week of August 25, he offered help–and she said they needed it.  She said she asked for assistance to supplement the Queen’s staff, which has been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.  The day of the briefing, Dr. Green said the hospital had 99 patients with COVID-19, and 14 in the ICU.

HI-EMA Administrator Luke Meyers said, “As our State’s hospitals struggle to deal with their surges in COVID-19 patients, this assistance from HHS will make a significant difference in our fight against this disease. We thank the personnel for their dedication to helping those in need.”

HHS activated the USPHS Commissioned Corps, along with the National Disaster Medical System, to provide temporary medical relief during the pandemic. These professionals augment health care providers at overwhelmed medical facilities in hotspot areas across the country. More than 4,160 USPHS officers have deployed during the pandemic. These medical providers work in collaboration with local health providers to treat COVID-19 patients.

Health care providers statewide have been overwhelmed with an influx of COVID-19 patients, but so far, the Big Island has been able to handle the situation.  Kona Community Hospital yesterday released its one COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized for many days.  Hilo Medical Center currently has 14 patients with COVID– 6 in ICU, 7 in COVID Unit, 1 in Obstetrics Unit.  HMC CEO Dan Brinkman has said the HMC team can handle the load for now.  Dr. Green said Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital stands ready to assist in taking patients from Hilo Medical Center if needed.

Photo is Queen’s CEO Dr. Jill Hoggard Green (front, left) with other Queen’s officials and nurses from the United States Public Health Service