Hilo Medical Center currently has 20 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and has reported a total of 16 deaths from the virus.  Four are in the ICU, 15 in the COVID-19 Unit, and one new Mom is in the OB unit.   The hospital has also provided an update on patient, long-term-care resident, and employee COVID testing.

In sad news, the latest death is also in a resident of the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home.  Today in a press conference, Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green (speaking from isolation, as he has COVID-19) said the deaths are tragic, and that some of those who had passed had opted to not have extreme measures to extend their lives, which the hospital and the Veterans Home honored.  So far 68 of the 94 residents plus 30 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.  The detail is in the below report.

Today the State’s COVID-19 Response Coordinator,  Maj. Gen. Ken Hara of the  Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Director, said a State team has done an investigation to see how to help at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home along with a representative of the Veterans Affairs.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz had asked the V.A. to provide assistance, and they will be sending a team of medical professionals to lend additional support and relieve some of those on duty at the Veterans Home.

Hilo Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer, Dan Brinkman, does regular virtual town halls with updates to which all employees are invited, and which the public may also view.  That link is below.

HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 3:30 pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2020)

·         20 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 4 in ICU, 15 in COVID Unit, 1 in OB Unit

o   The COVID-positive long term care resident in our Extended Care Facility has been admitted for care to the COVID Unit.

o   The resident’s roommate has tested positive for COVID-19 and remains in isolation.

o   62 staff and 32 residents have been tested. All staff and residents are negative with the exception of the resident in isolation.

o   Another round of tests are scheduled for this Friday, September 18.

o   Admissions to our Extended Care Facility are paused until this situation is resolved.

o   For incidents of Patient Under Investigation (PUIs) and COVID-positive results after admission, contact tracing and testing continues for affected staff.

·         1 death related to COVID-19 occurred at the hospital on September 8, 2020. This death is unrelated to Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.

YUKIO OKUTSU STATE VETERANS HOME UPDATE (as of 3:30 pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, reported by Avalon Healthcare, the veterans home’s managing company)

·         A total of 68 residents and 30 employees have tested positive for COVID-19

·         5 residents are hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center

·         29 total residents are cared for at the veterans home’s COVID designated area

·         19 residents and 5 employees have recovered

·         1 death to report today related to COVID-19 at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.

o   15 total resident deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred. We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones.

·         For additional information, go to: https://ahcupdates.info/hilo-covid19-update

CHECK OUT: East Hawaii Region Fact Sheet on testing, beds, ventilators, and PPE resources (as of Friday, September 11)

·         16 total deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred – 15 from the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home and 1 unrelated to the veterans home.

·         Hilo Medical Center: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19: 20

·         WATCH: Past virtual CEO town halls on our Hilo Medical Center YouTube Channel.

Photo is Hilo Medical Center CEO Dan Brinkman as he gives an update.