Wailuku, Maui, HI – Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) is set to begin new healthcare treatment that targets acute and emergent problems in heart disease, specifically heart attacks, starting on August 15, 2011. Maui patients may now be treated here on island for these ailments, without having to travel to Oahu.
The new program includes a fully-staffed Emergency Department and an experienced team of cardiologists and cardiac catheter lab personnel available around the clock 24/7 to provide state-of-the-art emergency care. MMMC is the first neighbor island hospital in the State to offer this level of care for coronary artery disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.
MMMC received final approval in July of 2007 for a Certificate of Need (CON) for the cardiovascular program, paving the way for open heart and angioplasty procedures to be done on Maui. In 2008, Dr. Richard Cochran was hired as the MMMC Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Since then the hospital has completed necessary infrastructure and hired personnel to fully staff the new heart program.
“This is a very exciting and pivotal moment for healthcare on Maui,” said MMMC Chief Executive Officer, Wesley Lo. “We have been working extensively for several years to bring this new service to Maui. Our new program provides basic services that have been missing, but are required for a community of this size. Heart patients, who previously had to be flown to Honolulu for treatment, now can stay on-island, saving precious time, resources and improving outcomes.”
In addition to Dr. Cochran, the program is manned by interventional cardiologists Dr. Colin Lee and Dr. Joseph Chambers with participation and support from Maui cardiologists. “We are pleased to have such a competent and caring staff to provide these heart services for Maui,” adds Lo. “In addition to our MMMC team of doctors, we have a strong group of Maui cardiologists who are also committed to providing optimal care here on Maui.
About Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC)
The largest hospital within the HHSC system, Maui Memorial Medical Center is Maui’s only full-service, acute medical care facility. Located in central Maui in Wailuku, the center is licensed for 231 acute care beds, and provides comprehensive healthcare for Maui County, including Lanai and Molokai. MMMC is the only hospital outside of Oahu also providing a full range of cardiac services, including open-heart surgery and angioplasty.