Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Feb 3, 2021

Straub: Celebrating A Century Of Quality Health Care In Hawai‘i
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 5
FROM PAGE 4
from the rest is Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s electronic medical records (EMR). From scheduling appoint- ments to refilling prescriptions and contacting their physicians, the da- tabase has been a one-stop-shop for patients. In fact, its forward-think- ing EMR earned the network three Healthcare Information and Man- agement Systems Society Davies Enterprise Awards of Excellence in 2013, 2016 and 2019.
Dr. John Mickey
internal medicine physician (primary care provider)
Dr. John Mickey has been a legacy provid- er with Straub since 1979, during a time when primary care took a metaphorical backseat to medical specialties.
“That was how medi- cine was organized in those days,” explains Mickey, who attended Mokapu Elementary School as a child when his dad was a pilot on active duty. “Primary care has expanded all over the place. Family practice is now a big part of what we do. “We are still evolving our structure to make things more efficient and easier, more unified,” he continues. “We are all very opti- mistic about the future of Hawai‘i Pacific Health and Straub. We were able to maintain our identity. Since Straub has such a rich and long history, it’s nice that it’s still hon- ored by the way we’re being organized.”
Dr. Robert Schulz
founder, Straub Burn Center
As the only multidisci- plinary burn treatment center in the Pacific, Straub’s facility has expanded to treat thou- sands of patients since its inception nearly four decades ago.
“We now have a process where we can take a small skin graft and break it down into a sprayable skin,” shares Straub Burn Center founder Dr. Robert Schulz. “We can now dramatically reduce the donor area of where we have to graft patients. We can cover an area about the size of a place mat with about two post- age stamp sizes of thin skin epithelial.” Schulz, who joined Straub in 1977, adds that joining the Straub ‘ohana was the best decision he’s made. “It’s literally the best medical treatment you can get, and I’m very proud of that,” he says.
Dr. Hingson Chun
medical director, cardiac electrophysiology
Dr. Hingson Chun
is one of Straub’s innovative electro- physiologists, and he’s been helping patients navigate rhythm abnor- malities in the heart since joining the health care facility in 2003. “Straub offered me the best of both worlds,” Chun says. “It of- fers the security and patient population of a larger group, but the freedom to practice almost as if you were a private practitioner. You can take care of your patients as inten- sively and personally as you like.”
He touts the ease and beauty of Hawai‘i Pacif- ic Health’s electronic medical records as one of the notable systems that sets Straub and the other hospitals under the health care network’s purview apart from the rest. “It has really helped us be more efficient, thorough and safe,” Chun adds.
Dr. Jared Oyama
interventional cardiologist medical director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Straub has been at the cutting edge of tech- nology for quite some time now, and one area of note is within its full-service cardiolo- gy department. “Though all areas within our department provide the latest
in techniques and technologies, I am, of course, most excited about what we are able to offer for pa- tients with heart valve abnormalities,” says interventional cardiolo- gist Dr. Jared Oyama. Basically, cardiac surgeons are able to provide the full spec- trum of heart care to the people of Hawai‘i. “For patients who are best served by open- heart surgery, our surgical partners will soon be offering robot- ic-assisted minimally invasive surgery that can avoid the need to split the breastbone in order to achieve access to the heart,” he adds.
“We’re the only three-time win- ner in the nation,” says Vara. “To me, that’s one of the hallmark components that has enabled us to connect with our patients.”
Even vaccinations, Vara adds, can be scheduled using the EMR patient portal MyChart.
As Straub celebrates a century of serving Hawai‘i’s people, Vara only sees a bright future ahead. It’s on the tip of the spear in terms of health care reform that focuses on putting patients first, and also is working on the planning phases of a complete redesign of its flagship King Street campus.
“Straub has significant business presence in terms of size and scale, and yet when you walk the halls, it feels intimate, and that’s the charm of Straub,” he says. “You have this world-class care with the greatest tech, and it still has the ability to have a very intimate feel to it. When you align those things, I think that’s what creates such a special experience for people who choose Straub as their home.
“Straub is a very special place,” Vara concludes. “A big part of our population has trusted Straub with their care for a very long time. I believe the loyalty runs deep be- cause of the compassion and pro- fessionalism people experience as patients.”
Learn more about Straub and its anniversary online at straub100.org.