LIHU‘E —There will be more dedications and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said he plans on being at those too. The longtime Hawai‘i Congressman was on hand Wednesday afternoon to dedicate the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System Community Based
LIHU‘E —There will be more dedications and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said he plans on being at those too.
The longtime Hawai‘i Congressman was on hand Wednesday afternoon to dedicate the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Kaua‘i.
Although the facility was opened in November, the dedication was finally formalized with Inouye’s visit.
“Our clinic originally opened in October 1988 at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital with a staff of four,” said Sharon Espina, CBOC chief medical officer. “We have since expanded and continue to look forward to future growth. This clinic opened Nov. 22, 2010 and currently has 18 employees. We have approximately 1,250 veterans enrolled and have completed more than 12,000 patient appointments in the last year.”
Kalautie Jangdhari, Pacific Islands Health Care System associate director, said there have been many strides at the CBOC Kaua‘i, including increased telehealth services, the addition of a new mental health nurse practictioner, a pain specialist who travels from O‘ahu once a month and a registered nurse to support the Primary Care Team.
She said anticipated growth includes adding a clerical position and a registered nurse to the CBOC Kaua‘i Home-Based Primary Care program which will expand the facility’s front office support as well as the capacity to conduct visits to homebound veterans.
“This current location can accommodate more parking, exam rooms and office, increasing and improving access to care for all of our veterans,” Jangdhari said. “We are committed to veteran-centered care which means not only identifying the individual needs of our veterans their families, but it also means to strive to meet those needs.”
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., noting how everyone is connected on the island, said he was recently involved in the Veterans Affairs Community Outreach for Homeless Veterans. He outlined the aspects of support the county provides for veterans.
Inouye — noting that he is a Kaua‘i boy, a veteran and a product of the VA — said one of the proudest moments in his career was working to appoint Eric Shinseki, another Kaua‘i native, who is currently the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“This is only one of many dedications which he has lined up,” Inouye said. “I will work with Eric for more dedications. Invite me all the time. I want to get back here.”
Jangdhari said the CBOC Kaua‘i staff demonstrates its commitment to the VA-adopted core values and characteristics which apply universally across the department.
“The Five VA core values define who we are, our culture and how we care for veterans, their families and other beneficiaries,” Janghari said. “The ‘I Care’ Values are integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence. Our VA team puts these core values into practice each day.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
